History  of  St.  John's  CSiurch 
Waterbury,  Connecticut 


ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH,  1873. 


A  NARRATIVE 

AND 

DOCUMENTARY  HISTORY 

OF 

St.  John's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
(formerly  St.  James) 

OF 

Waterbury,  Connecticut 


,        WITH  SOME  NOTICE  OF 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Plymouth. 
Christ  Church,  Watertown. 
St.  Michael's  Church,  Naugatuck. 
A  Church  in  Middlebury. 
All  Saint's  Church,  Wolcott. 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Waterville. 
Trinity  Church,  Waterbury. 
(All  Colonies  of  St.  John's.) 

BY 

FREDERICK  JOHN  KINGSBURY,  L.L.D. 


THB  PRICE,  LEE  &  ADKINS  Co., 

NEW  HAVEN,  CONN. 

1907 


PREFACE. 

While  compiling  a  sketch  of  the  Episcopal  Church  for  the  "His- 
tory of  the  Town  and  City  of  Waterbury"  I  became  aware  of  material 
which  would,  or  should,  interest  the  present  members  of  the  church, 
but  could  hardly  be  properly  used  in  the  somewhat  circumscribed 
limits  of  a  town  history. 

I  had  it  in  mind  to  use  these  materials  at  some  future  time  in  a 
fuller  account,  but  multiplicity  of  duties  and  increasing  years  led 
to  the  postponement  and  finally  to  an  abandonment  of  the  plan. 

Of  late,  however,  several  requests  that  I  would  do  this  work,  and 
the  fact  that,  although  I  have  grown  no  younger,  I  seem  to  be  rather 
less  pressed  for  time,  have  led  me  to  make  the  attempt  to  carry  out  my 
former  undertaking. 

For  the  greater  part,  the  text  is  simply  a  reproduction  of  what 
appears  in  the  History,  but  there  are  many  documents  which  do  not 
appear  there,  some  added  notes  and  commentaries  and  perhaps  a  few 
changes. 


2012515 


This  history  of  the  church,  which  was  her^s,  both 
by  long  inheritance  and  deep  affection,  is  dedicated 
to  the  memory  of  Atathea  Ruth  ScovUl  Kingsbury. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

The  early  settlers  of  Waterbury  came  from  Farmington  in 
1677-80.  Farmington  was  settled  from  Hartford  in  1640,  and 
Hartford  from  the  towns  about  Boston  in  1635  and  a  few  years 
later.  Waterbury's  earlier  inhabitants  were  therefore,  histori- 
cally at  least,  the  descendants  of  Winthrop's  immigration  of  1630, 
or  of  those  who  had  joined  the  same  Colony  later.  About  fifty 
years,  however,  had  intervened  and  probably  most  of  those  who 
came  to  Waterbury  were  born  in  this  country. 

Nearly  all  of  the  early  Massachusetts  settlers  regarded  them- 
selves as  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  but  they  had  evan- 
gelical leanings  and  were  opposed  to  what  they  thought  excessive 
liturgical  and  prelatical  observances, — a  reforming  body  within 
the  church.  They  had,  howeyer,  in  this  country  developed  a 
decided  church  polity  of  their  own,  and  had  practically  become 
"  Independents."  The  government  was  organized  on  a  religious 
basis.  The  early  towns  were  really  churches;  the  minister  was 
"called"  in  town  meeting,  and  his  support  was  provided  for  by 
town  grants  and  a  town  tax.  Many  of  the  beliefs  and  methods 
of  the  Church  of  England,  as  then  practiced,  were  not  congenial 
to  the  immigrants  and  their  descendants,  and  these  beliefs  and 
methods  were  allowed  as  little  foothold  or  countenance  here  as 
was  deemed  consistent  with  a  due  regard  for  the  ultimate  powers 
of  the  English  government.  Time  and  distance,  however,  while 
they  emphasized  and  rendered  possible  a  great  divergence  of 
faiths  and  practice,  softened  in  some  minds  early  prejudices,  and 
a  love  and  longing  for  the  old  church  and  her  forms  grew  up  in 
many  hearts.  Her  shortcomings  were  forgotten,  her  virtues  were 
more  clearly  seen,  especially  where  they  could  be  favorably  con- 
trasted with  the  deficiencies  of  the  New  England  system.  In  this 
way,  or  in  some  such  way,  a  preparation  for  a  reaction  had  for 
some  time  been  going  on. 

The  year  1722  was  a  notable  one  in  the  history  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church  in  Connecticut.  In  that  year  Dr.  Timothy  Cutler, 


INTRODUCTORY. 

rector  of  Yale  college,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson,  a  graduate  and 
former  tutor  of  the  college  and  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  in  West  Haven,  and  Daniel  Brown,  a  tutor  in  the 
college  and  a  classmate  and  intimate  friend  of  Johnson's,  all 
declared  their  adhesion  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  gave  up  their 
positions  and  left  for  England  to  be  ordained — there  being  no 
Bishop  in  this  country  until  some  sixty  years  later.  On  April  13, 
1723,  Brown  died  of  small-pox  in  England,  greatly  mourned  and 
lamented.  The  other  two  were  duly  ordained  and  returned  to 
this  country  to  pursue  their  work. 

In  this  same  year,  1722,  James  Brown,  a  resident  of  West 
Haven,  then  about  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  a  cousin  of  the  father 
of  the  above  named  Daniel  Brown,  and  doubtless  a  parishioner 
of  the  above  named  Samuel  Johnson,  removed  from  West  Haven 
to  Waterbury.  He  lived  at  Naugatuck  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  was  a  farmer  and  hotel  keeper  and  soon  became  a  somewhat 
prominent  man  in  the  new  settlement.  Some  years  later  he  re- 
moved to  Watertown,  to  the  place  known  of  late  years  as  the 
Captain  John  Buckingham  place,  above  Oakville. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  Episcopalian  in  Waterbury. 
Perhaps  he  had  been  a  fellow-student  and  investigator  with  his 
cousin  and  his  pastor.  He  certainly  sympathized  with  them, 
for  his  Episcopacy  was  of  so  pronounced  a  character,  and  his  zeal 
so  active,  that  he  earned  for  himself  the  soubriquet  of  "Bishop 
Brown"  from  his  jocular  neighbors.  He  seems  for  some  years 
to  have  been  the  only  incumbent. 

There  were,  however,  doubtless  a  few  persons  already  here 
who  knew  something  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and  were  well  dis- 
posed towards  it.  Witness  the  following:  The  Rev.  X.  A.  Welton 
writes,  "Mr.  Stephen  Hopkins  Welton  has  an  old  prayer-book 
containing  the  following  inscription,  which  I  copied  from  it 
myself ' : 

"This  book  was  first  the  property  of  my  great-grandfather, 
Richard  Welton,  who  was  the  first  male  child  born  of  English 
parents  in  Waterbury  and  one  of  the  first  Episcopalians  in  said 
town.  At  his  decease  it  became  the  property  of  my  grandfather, 
Richard  Welton,  Jr.,  and  at  his  decease  it  became  my  property. 

viii 


INTRODUCTORY. 

I  gave  it  to  William  S.  H.  Welton,  the  oldest  son  of  my  nephew, 
the  Rev.  Alanson  W.  Welton,  deceased.  Said  Samuel  (sic)  is 
the  fifth  generation  from  the  original  proprietor  of  this  book  and 
the  sixth  from  the  only  man  of  this  name  that  was  ever  known  to 
cross  the  Atlantic  and  settle  in  these  British  Colonies. 
All  by  the  way  of  primogeniture. 

Attest:  Abi    Welton." 

Richard  Welton,  first  named  above,  was  born,  according  to 
town  record,  March,  1680,  and  by  family  tradition  September  27, 
1679,  and  died  in  1755.  So  he  may  not  have  had  this  book  until 
after  Mr.  Brown  came  here  and  the  possession  of  the  book  is  not 
to  be  taken  as  proof  of  his  opinions,  but  from  the  fact  that  he 
lived  at  Bucks  Hill,  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  town  from  Mr. 
Brown,  and  that  the  Weltons  were  among  the  first  to  join  with  him 
it  seems  likely  that  they  were  already  well  affected. 

It  is  recorded  that  in  1734  Mr.  Johnson,  then  rector  at  Strat- 
ford ascended  the  valley  of  the  Naugatuck  as  far  as  Waterbury 
and  baptized  an  infant  son  of  Nathaniel  Gunn.*  Dr.  Beardsley 
in  his  History  of  Episcopacy  in  Connecticut  says  of  this  service: 
"This  was  undoubtedly  the  first  instance  in  that  town  of  the 
dedication  of  a  child  to  God  'by  our  office  and  ministry/  and  the 
first  occasion  on  which  the  forms  of  the  liturgy  were  used  by  a 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England." 

All  organized  work  of  the  Church  of  England  in  this  country 
at  that  time  was  under  the  charge  of  an  English  Missionary  society 
founded  in  1701  and  styled  "The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  In  later  years  the  society  was 
styled  "Venerable,"  and  became  so  well  known  that  for  ordinary 
purposes  the  initials  "Ven.  S.  P.  G."  were  a  sufficient  description. 
This  society  continued  to  have  charge  of  all  church  work  here  up 
to  the  time  of  the  Revolution.  It  appointed  the  clergy,  paid 
their  stipends  or  supplemented  them,  and  received  their  reports. 


*  Presumably  Abel,  born  August  12,  1734. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PREFACE iii 

DEDICATION v 

INTRODUCTORY          ..........     vii 

ILLUSTRATIONS        ..........    xiii 

CHAPTER  I. 
THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  ST.  JOHN 20 

TRANSITION  PERIOD 

CHAPTER  III. 
THE  NEW  ERA 35 

CHAPTER  IV. 
ADDITIONAL  MEMORANDA 64 

CHAPTER  V. 
THE  LAITY 71 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Music 76 

CHAPTER  VII. 
TRUST  FUNDS 79 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
EXTRACT  FROM  RECORDS  .  86 


CHAPTER  IX. 
REAL  ESTATE Ill 

CHAPTER  X. 
CHURCH  OFFICERS 127 

CHAPTER  XI. 

TAX  RATES  AND  BAPTISMS  BY  MR.  MANSFIELD      .....   133 

xi 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
ST.  PETER'S  CHURCH,  PLYMOUTH 139 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
CHRIST  CHURCH,  WATERTOWN 144 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
ST.  MICHAEL'S  CHURCH,  NAUQATUCK 149 

CHAPTER  XV. 
A  CHURCH  m  MIDDLEBUKY 153 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
ALL  SAINTS'  CHURCH,  WOLCOTT 154 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
ST.  PAULS'  CHUKCH,  WATEHVIHJJ: 160 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
TRINITY  CHURCH,  WATERBURY 162 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH  1873 Frontispiece 

1797 26 

1839 44 

1848 46 

"  "          AFTER  THE  HIGH  WIND,  JANUARY  .19,  1857       .         .     48 

"  "        "     FIRE,  DEC.  24,  1868     .         .         .         .50 

PLOT  OP  ST.  JAMES'  CHURCH  LOT,  1743 10 

PORTRAIT  OF  REV.  JACOB  L.  CLARK,  D.D 36 

"         "       "     EDMUND  ROWLAND,  D.D 57 

"        "      "    JOHN  N.  LEWIS,  JR 58 

"       "     FRANCIS  T.  RUSSELL,  D.D 60 

"       "     RICHARD  W.  Micou,  D.D.       .        >•",_.'•>.         .         .165 
"         "       "     FREDERICK  D.  BUCKLEY          .         .         .         .         -   170 

ST.  PAUL'S  CHAPEL.  WATERVILLE 160 

TRINITY  CHURCH.  1900  162 


CHAPTEK  1. 

THE  MISSION  PAEISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

1732-1799. 

WHEN"  the  Eev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Trumbull,  of  North  Haven, 
was  collecting  material  for  his  History  of  Connecticut, 
he  wrote  to  Judge  Joseph  Hopkins  of  Waterbury,  who 
was  at  that  time  presiding  judge  of  the  New  Haven  County  Court 
and  the  leading  citizen  of  Waterbuiy,  for  information  relating  to 
the  history  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  that  town. 

Judge  Hopkins  was  not  an  Episcopalian  and  he  turned  the 
inquiry  over  to  Capt.  John  Welton.  Captain  Welton  was  a  pros- 
perous farmer  who  lived  in  the  North  part  of  the  town  on  Bucks 
hill.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town.  For  years  he 
and  Judge  Hopkins  together  had  represented  the  town  in  the 
General  Assembly.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church.  The  letter  which  he  wrote  in  reply  to  this  inquiry 
shows  him  to  have  been  a  man  of  excellent  judgment  as  to  what  was 
essential  in  a  letter  of  this  kind:  of  remarkable  memory  as  to  facts 
and  of  skill  in  their  arrangement  beyond  what  we  could  expect  in 
one  of  his  practical  habit  and  training.  This  letter  has  been  the 
basis  of  the  history  of  the  parish  ever  since:  indeed  we  know  very 
little  about  it  up  to  that  date,  beyond  what  this  letter  tells. 

The  parish  was  first  called  St.  James  and  the  name  was  not 
changed  until  the  erection  of  the  new  (second)  church  edifice  in 
1797,  about  two  years  before  Captain  Welton's  letter  was  written. 

Two  years  after  the  writing  of  this  letter  Judge  Hopkins  died. 
Perhaps  in  any  event  Captain  Welton  would  have  been  called  upon 
for  these  facts  and  dates  but  we  cannot  help  feeling  that  it  was 
fortunate  that  Judge  Hopkins  was  called  upon  to  select  the  man 
and  that  he  should  have  selected  Captain  Welton  to  reply  to  Dr. 
TrumbulFs  inquiries.  The  letter  is  still  among  the  Tnunbull 
papers  in  the  library  of  Yale  College  and  is  as  follows : 

1 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


WATERBDRY,  March  15,  A.  D.  1799. 

DEAR  SIR:— The  following  is  the  best  answer  I  can  give  to 
your  questions.  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1732,  I  was  then  about 
ten  years  old,  I  believe  there  was  not  more  than  three  or  four 
churchmen  in  town.  About  that  time,  or  before,  there  was  one 
Arnold,  I  suppose  an  itinerant  preacher,  preached  to  them  a  few 
times.  What  became  of  Arnold  I  know  not.  Afterward  Dr.  John- 
son of  Stratford  and  Mr.  Beach  of  Newtown  officiated  occasionally 
a  few  times  in  Waterbury.  The  state  of  Episcopacy  was  much  the 
game  with  the  addition  of  but  few  names  until  about  A.  D.  1742  or 
three,  when  a  considerable  number  of  families  came  over  to  the 
church  and  a  house  for  worship  soon  after  began  to  be  built.  In 
the  meantime  one  Morris  from  Europe  was  sent  over  by  the  Society 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel,  etc.,  to  take  in  Waterbury  and 
several  other  churches,  but  he  soon  returned  to  Europe.  Morris 
was  succeeded  by  one  Lyon,  another  of  the  Society's  missionaries. 
He  was  over  Derby  and  Waterbury,  did  not  reside  in  Waterbury, 
but  officiated  there  about  one-third  of  the  time,  but  I  believe  within 
one  or  two  years  was  removed  to  Long  Island.  After  Lyon  was 
the  Eev.  Dr.  Mansfield.  He  came  into  the  mission  about  A.  D. 
1749,  resided  at  Derby  and  officiated  at  Waterbury  one-third  of 
the  time  until  about  the  year  1758,  when  the  Kev.  Mr.  Scovil  came 
into  the  Mission  of  Waterbury  and  New  Cambridge.  He  resided 
in  Waterbury,  officiated  there  one-half  the  time  until  about  1771, 
when  the  Mission  was  divided  and  Mr.  Nichols  took  New  Cam- 
bridge, now  Bristol,  and  Northbury,  now  Plymouth,  and  left 
Waterbury  and  Westbury,  now  Watertown,  to  Mr.  Scovil,  where 
he  officiated  until  about  1785,  when  he  removed  to  Nova  Scotia. 

All  the  above  clergymen  received  their  ordination  in  London.  In 
the  year  1792  we  settled  Mr.  Hart.  He  continued  in  the  Mission 
until  1795,  then  removed  to  Wallingford.  In  the  year  1797,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Bronson  came  into  our  service.  He  hath  since  been  set- 
tled and  is  now  rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Waterbury. 

2 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

Thus  Sir,  I  have  done  the  best  I  could  to  answer  your  inquiries 
not  having  many  memorandums  or  records  to  direct  me,  but  I 
believe  the  above  facts  are  stated  nearly  right. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  to  serve,  etc., 

JOHN  WELTON. 

JOSEPH  HOPKINS,  ESQ. 

(Added  to  the  above  by  Judge  Hopkins.) 
There  is  a  library  in  the  first  Society  in  Waterbury  composed 
of  about  116  volumes  consisting  of  books  on  Divinity,  History, 
Geography  and  Novels,  and  the  Proprietors  have  laid  a  tax  which 
is  also  proposed  to  enlarge  it  considerably.  Also  one  in  Salem 
and  one  in  Middlebury. 

JOSEPH  HOPKINS. 

REV.  B.  TEUMBULL. 

This  note  by  Judge  Hopkins,  evidently  in  reply  to  an  inquiry, 
is  inserted  here  because  it  is  thought  worth  preserving. 

The  "first  society"  here  means  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society, 
geographically.  The  Second  Society  was  "Salem  Bridge"  now 
Naugatuck.  In  the  early  history  of  the  State  the  Ecclesiastical 
Societies  (Congregational)  were  incorporated  by  the  General  As- 
sembly and  set  off  by  metes  and  bounds,  and  when  a  society  was 
incorporated  as  a  town  the  same  geographical  lines  were  usually 
followed.  Thus  the  Society  of  Northbury  became  Plymouth,  that 
of  Westbury  became  Watertown,  that  of  Salem  Bridge,  or,  as  it  was 
called  many  years  in  all  legal  papers,  the  "Second  Society"  became 
Naugatuck,  and  Middlebury  became  Middlebury.  Wolcott  was 
taken  partly  from  Waterbury  and  partly  from  Southington,  Pros- 
pect was  taken  partly  from  Waterbury  and  partly  from  Cheshire, 
and  Oxford  partly  from  Waterbury  and  partly  from  Southbury 
and  Derby. 

Jonathan  Arnold,  who  is  mentioned  by  Captain  Welton  as  the 
first  incumbent,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth 
Arnold,  of  Haddam,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  born,  January  11, 
1700-01.  His  father  in  his  will  (December  1728)  leaves  to  this 
son  only  two  acres  of  land,  "which  with  the  expense  of  his  edu- 

3 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

cation  I  account  a  large  double  portion  of  my  estate."  (It  was 
at  that  time  a  custom,  though  not  a  law,  to  leave  to  the  eldest  son 
a  double  portion.) 

He  studied  theology,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  a  commit- 
tee of  the  Hartford  North  Association  in  1724  (after  June  2). 

Early  in  1725  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  West  Haven,  Connecticut, — the  people  stipulating  that 
if  he  should  (like  his  predecessor,  Samuel  Johnson)  embrace  Epis- 
copacy, the  money  paid  to  him  as  a  settlement  should  be  refunded. 

Johnson,  however,  conducted  occasional  services  within  the  par- 
ish and  was  able  to  gain  an  influence  over  the  young  minister,  so 
that  in  December,  1733,  he  could  report  to  the  Bishop  of  London 
that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  Arnold  would  in  a  little  time 
declare  for  Episcopacy;  and  on  the  next  Easter  Sunday  (April  14, 
1734),  Arnold  received  his  first  communion  from  the  hands  of 
Johnson,  at  Stratford.  In  May  or  June  he  was  dismissed  from  his 
pastoral  charge  in  West  Haven,  and  in  1735  he  went  to  England 
for  orders.  He  was  received  with  attention,  and  Bishop  Benson, 
of  Gloucester,  to  whom  Mr.  Johnson  had  commended  him,  sent 
him  to  Oxford  to  receive  there  (March  8,  1735-6)  the  honorary 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

After  a  tedious  voyage  he  arrived  at  Boston  on  his  return, 
July  1,  1736,  with  an  appointment  as  Itinerant  Missionary  for 
Connecticut  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts,  with  his  residence  in  West  Haven.  The  chief 
places  where  he  labored,  besides  West  Haven,  were  Derby  and 
Waterbury.  His  salary  was  only  £30  a  year,  but  as  he  was  pos- 
sessed of  some  private  means  he  desired  no  more.  The  event  by 
which  this  portion  of  his  life  was  chiefly  made  memorable  was  his 
attempt  in  the  fall  of  1738  to  take  possession  of  a  lot  of  land 
facing  on  the  Town  Green  in  New  Haven,  on  the  strength  of  a 
deed  (dated  March  26,  1736)  from  William  Grigson,  of  London, 
to  himself,  by  which  this  land  was  professedly  given  for 
the  erection  of  an  Episcopal  Church,  and  as  glebe  land  for  a 
minister.  Grigson's  title  was  regarded  as  imperfect  and  Arnold's 
attempt  to  take  possession  was  resisted  by  a  mob  of  students  and 
townspeople.  He  seems  to  have  failed  in  discretion  in  his  con- 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

duct,  both  in  this  and  in  some  other  matters,  and  being  of  "  a  very 
unsteady  disposition,"  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1740,  he  was 
transferred  to  Staten  Island,  as  the  missionary  of  the  Venerable 
Society,  in  charge  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  at  a  salary  of  £30  a 
year.  From  this  charge  he  was  dismissed  June  21,  1745,  in  con- 
sequence of  complaints  from  the  wardens  and  vestrymen. 

In  April,  1746,  being  still  at  Staten  Island,  he  brought  suit  in 
the  New  Haven  Court  for  the  recovery  of  a  debt. 

From  this  date  he  disappears  from  view,  except  in  the  glimpse 
afforded  by  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  T.  B.  Chandler,  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Johnson,  dated  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  February  26,  1753, 
as  follows: — 

"  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  favor  of  January  29,  and 
am  sorry  to  tell  you  that  Mr.  Arnold  did  nothing  in  his  will  for 
his  children  in  New  England.  Mrs.  Arnold  was  left  sole  executrix, 
and  everything  her  husband  died  possessed  of  was  left  to  her  dis- 
posal. 

However,  she  says  she  is  willing  that  his  children  in  New  Eng- 
land should  come  in  for  a  share  with  her  own  child  in  whatsoever 
he  left  in  your  parts;  and  I  believe  she  will  not  recall  it.  As  to  the 
temper  of  mind  in  which  Mr.  Arnold  left  the  world,  I  find  that  he 
had  his  reason  for  some  months  before  his  death,  which  he  retained 
to  the  last.  But  I  have  not  heard  what  remarks  or  reflections  he 
made  on  his  past  life,  and  what  was  the  moral  disposition  of  his 
mind." 

No  will  appears  to  have  been  proved,  either  in  New  Jersey  or 
New  York. 

His  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  April  4,  1728,  was 
Abigail,  only  child  of  the  late  John  and  Abigail  (Hollingworth) 
Beard,  of  Milford,  a  large  heiress.  (In  Milford  town  records, 
adjoining  the  entry  of  this  marriage  is  also  the  entry  of  a  marriage 
of  the  same  bridegroom  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Miles,  July  29,  1728;  some 
inexplicable  error  lurks  in  the  latter  entry.)  Mrs.  Abigail  Arnold 
was  living  in  May,  1739,  when  she  joined  her  husband  in  a  deed 
of  land  in  New  Haven. 

Whitefield,  in  his  visit  to  the  Colonies  in  November,  1739,  fell 
in  with  Arnold,  and  was  so  disgusted  with  him  as  to  take  the  trou- 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

ble  of  writing  a  letter  (from  Philadelphia,  November  27)  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Venerable  Society,  warning  him  that,  in  the 
writer's  opinion,  Arnold  "is  unworthy  of  the  name  of  a  minister 
of  Jesus  Christ."  "I  have  been,"  he  continues,  "in  his  company 
several  times  and  was  obliged  to  reprove  him  openly  for  his 
misconduct."  Arnold  had  already  printed  in  New  York,  Novem- 
ber 17,  a  warning  against  Whitefield,  reprinted  in  the  Boston 
News-Letter;  they  had  been  thrown  together  in  coming  from 
Philadelphia,  and  Arnold  had  sought  out  Whitefield,  in  New  York, 
at  the  house  of  "Mr.  Smith,  the  lawyer"  (Y.  C.  1719). 

Prof.  F.  B.  Dexter's  Yale  Biographies. 

In  several  cases  I  have  taken  Prof.  Dexter's  biographies 
entire,  knowing  that  they  were  of  the  highest  authority  and 
usually  exhaustive. 

Dr.  Tilotson  Bronson  in  his  article  in  The  Churchman  Magazine,  Vol.  4, 
p.  129,  says  "sometime  in  the  year  1737,  a  Mr.  Arnold,  an  itinerant  missionary 
of  the  S.  P.  G.,  performed  divine  service  for  the  first  time  according  to  the 
rites  of  the  church,  when  he  baptized  two  infants,  both  of  whom  were  lately 
living  and  one  is  still  a  respectable  member  of  the  church."  Of  course  Dr. 
Bronson  got  his  information  from  tradition  and  had  undoubtedly  confused 
the  service  performed  by  Dr.  Johnson  in  1734  at  Gunntown  with  what  he  sup- 
posed to  have  been  done  in  1737  by  Mr.  Arnold.  Mr.  A.  was  the  regular 
missionary  here  and  any  service  of  this  sort  by  him  would  not  be  of  particular 
note.  The  following  is  from  the  town  records,  vol.  5,  p.  21. 

Jan.  29,  1738-9.  Whereas  Thomas  Porter  was  chosen  at  annual  meeting 
of  1736  to  collect  ministers  rate  and  had  a  list  of  the  rate  to  be  gathered  com- 
mitted to  him  in  which  list  several  persons  were  included  under  the  title  or 
denomination  of  churchmen  and  so  allowed  in  the  list  for  the  year  1736. 
These  are  therefore  to  certify  all  whom  it  may  concern  that  I  the  subscriber 
have  received  in  full  of  the, several  persons  contained  in  said  list  under  the 
said  Denom,  as  their  several  sums  are  set  down  and  do  hereby  acquit  and 
discharge  the  above  said  collector  from  all  demands  from  me  or  my  heirs:  I 
having  I  say  been,  I  say  received  in  full  by  me,  Jonathan  Arnold. 
Attest:  JOHN  SOUTHMAYD, 

Town  Register. 

The  Reverend  Theophilus  Morris  the  next  rector  mentioned 
by  Capt.  Welton,  resided  in  Derby.  He  was  an  Englishman. 
One  of  his  contemporaries,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  wrote  of  him: 
"He  is  in  many  respects  a  gentleman  of  good  accomplishments, 

6 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

but  it  does  not  seem  likely  that  he  will  suit  or  be  suited  with  the 
disposition  of  these  country  people,  so  that  I  very  much  doubt 
whether  he  will  be  happy  in  them  or  they  in  him,  and  I  wish  that 
he  was  better  provided  for  and  that  some  young  man  previously 
acquainted  with  this  country,  or  that  could  suit  his  disposition  to 
it,  were  provided  for  them. 

One  reads  between  these  lines  pretty  clearly  what  Mr.  Morris's 
limitations  were.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  well  meaning  man 
with  considerable  energy,  but  his  zeal  was  not  according  to  knowl- 
edge; he  involved  himself  in  difficulties  with  his  brethren  here 
and  he  soon  after  returned  to  England  apparently  to  his  own  and 
their  relief. 

Mr.  Morris's  successor  was  the  Rev.  James  Lyons,  an  Irishman 
by  birth,  of  whom  the  historian  of  the  church  says  that  "if  he 
had  genius  and  zeal,  he  was  another  example  of  a  tiller  in  the  field 
that  needed  a  special  missionary  to  watch  him  and  keep  him  from 
running  his  plough  upon  the  rocks."  Mr.  Lyons  was  here  about 
four  years.  He  resided  in  Derby  and  preached  one-third  of  the 
time  in  Waterbury.  During  these  years,  notwithstanding  some 
defects  in  the  missionaries  in  charge,  the  church  had  greatly 
increased.  In  the  year  1740  the  famous  Whitefield  preached 
throughout  New  England,  and  his  preaching  was  followed  by  a 
condition  of  intense  religious  excitement.  The  result  of  this  was 
to  turn  the  attention  of  the  staid  and  moderate  portion  of  the 
community  to  the  more  quiet  and  conservative  methods  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  and  there  followed  a  great  accession  to  the 
Episcopal  ranks.  Dr.  Henry  Bronson  says:  "The  prosperity  of 
the  Episcopal  church  in  Waterbury  dates  from  about  1740."  It 
is  said  that  twenty-five  heads  of  families  transferred  their  member- 
ship at  one  time  from  the  Congregational  to  the  Episcopal  Society. 

The  reason  given  was  "dissatisfaction  with  the  doctrines  of 
that  church  and  the  exclusive  views  of  its  ministers."  The 
point  having  most  weight  seems  to  have  been  the  restricting  of 
the  privilege  of  infant  baptism  to  children  of  parents  both  of 
whom  were  in  full  communion  of  their  church. 

Dr.  Tillotson  Bronson  in  an  article  in  the  Churchman's  Maga- 
zine for  1807,  entitled  "History  of  the  Church  in  Waterbury" 
says:  7 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

"Being  thus  strengthened,  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  church. 
A  subscription  was  accordingly  opened;  and  as  this  document  is 
still  in  being,  bearing  date  1742,  it  ascertains  who  were  the  names 
then  considerable  in  the  parish,  which  are  as  follows,  viz: 

JAMES  BROWN  DANIEL  PORTER 

JOHN  BARNES  JONATHAN  PRINDLE 

THOMAS  BARNES  JOHN  SOUTHMAYD 

JOSEPH  BRONSON  RICHARD  WELTON 

NATHANIEL  GUNN  RICHARD  WELTON,  2o. 

JOHN  JUDD  ELIAKIM  WELTON 

GEORGE  NICHOLS  EPHRAIM  WARNER 

THOMAS  OSBORN  EBENEZER  WARNER 

Most  of  these  men  left  a  numerous  progeny  who  belong  to  the 
church." 

This  was  written  in  1807,  and  he  mentions  that  Thomas  Osborn 
is  still  living  aged  91. 

Mr.  Lyon's  successor  was  the  Rev.  Richard  Mansfield.  He 
was  the  son  of  Deacon  Jonathan  Mansfield  of  New  Haven  and 
was  born  there,  October  1,  1723,  and  graduated  at  Yale  college 
in  1741.  For  five  years  he  was  rector  of  the  Hopkins  Grammar 
school,  and  as  during  this  time  he  connected  himself  with  the 
Episcopal  church  (the  Hopkins  Grammar  school  being  distinctly 
a  Congregational  institution)  and  still  continued  for  some  years 
to  hold  the  position,  it  is  evident  that  even  at  that  early  age  he 
must  have  possessed  a  rare  combination  of  firmness,  gentleness 
and  attractive  traits  of  character.  In  1748  he  was  ordained  in 
England  and  appointed  a  missionary,  on  a  salary  of  £20  a  year, 
to  the  villages  of  Derby,  West  Haven,  Waterbury  and  Northbury, 
and  established  himself  at  Derby,  that  being  a  convenient  point 
for  the  care  of  this  extensive  charge.  On  October  10,  1751,  he 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  Captain  Joseph  Hull  of  Derby.  She 
had  reached  at  that  time  the  mature  age  of  fifteen  years  and  four 
months.* 


*  Early  marriages  were  more  common  then  than  now  and  there  may  have  been 
other  extenuating  circumstances.  I  do  not  know  what  they  were.  Perhaps  she  was 
yery  pretty. 

8 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

Her  elder  sister  had,  the  preceding  summer,  married  the  Rev. 
Mark  Leavenworth,  the  Congregational  minister  of  Waterbury. 
For  ten  years  Mr.  Mansfield  administered  the  affairs  of  this  large 
district  with  faithfulness  and  success.  After  Mr.  Scovil  took 
charge  of  the  parishes  in  this  neighborhood,  Mr.  Mansfield  re- 
stricted his  labors  to  Derby  and  vicinity,  and  there  he  lived, 
universally  beloved  and  respected,  until  April  2,  1820,  when  he 
died  in  the  ninety-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  the  seventy-second 
of  his  ministry:  one  of  the  longest,  if  not  absolutely  the  longest, 
of  pastorates  on  record.  His  Alma  Mater  in  1792  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  he  being  the  first  Episcopal  clergyman 
to  whom  she  extended  that  honor.  He  was  one  of  the  persons 
proposed  to  succeed  Bishop  Seabury,  but  declined  to  be  a  candi- 
date. In  his  ninety-sixth  year  he  presided  over  the  convention 
which  elected  Bishop  Brownell.  His  life  has  been  fully  treated 
in  the  History  of  Derby  and  elsewhere. 

In  January,  1740,  certain  persons  "  calling  themselves  Church- 
men" remonstrated  against  paying  Mr.  Southmayd  the  £100 
voted  him.  Their  names  fifteen  in  number,  were  spread  upon 
the  town  record  and  the  list  is  interesting.  Here  it  is: — 

EPHKAIM  WARNER,  NATHANIEL  MERRILL,  CALEB  THOMPSON, 

DANIEL  PORTER,  OBADIAH  WARNER,  JAMES  WILLIAMS, 

ROBERT  JOHNSON,  RICHARD  WELTON,  THOMAS  BARNES, 

JAMES  BROWN,  JOSEPH  SMITH,  ABRAHAM  WARNER, 

BENJAMIN  WARNER,  EPHRAIM  WARNER,  JR.,  SAMTTEL  BROWN. 

(The  above  list  is  copied  from  the  manuscripts  of  the  late 
Bennet  Bronson.  There  is  no  record  of  town  meetings  between 
December,  1738,  and  December,  1740.  One  leaf,  perhaps  more, 
of  the  record  book  is  missing.  It  may  have  been  lost  in  binding. 
The  missing  portion  was  in  existence  some  thirty  years  ago,  as 
proved  by  the  manuscripts  referred  to.) — H.  Branson's  History. 

The  following  vote  was  passed  by  the  town  December  13, 1742: 

Upon  the  request  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Warner  and  others,  the 

town,  by  vote,  gave  liberty  to  set  up  a  church  on  the  highway, 

North  of  Edmund  Scott's  house  lot  against  the  apple  trees  in  said 

Scott's  lot   by  the  highway,  and  appoint  the  present  townsmen 

9 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

with  John  Southmayd  a  committee  to  agree  with  said  Scott  to 
get  some  of  his  lot)  if  they  can  have  it  upon  reasonable  terms  that 
the  house  may  be  better  accommodated  and  the  highway  less 
incumbered.  This  is  the  action  referred  to  by  Dr.  Tillotson 
Bronson. 

For  some  reason  not  now  understood,  the  ground  above  des- 
ignated, and  which  is  nearly  the  same  as  that  on  which  the  present 
Episcopal  church  stands,  was  not  obtained  or  not  improved,  and 


Lor  FOR  ST.  JAMES'  CHURCH,  1743. 

a  year  afterwards  the  town  gave  to  William  Selkrigg  the  liberty 
to  place  a  house  on  it. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  April  10,  1743,  several  of  the  denomi- 
nation of  the  Church  of  England  declared  that  they  were  about 
to  set  up  a  church  and  petitioned  that  if  they  purchased  a  place 
to  set  it  upon  the  town  would  help  them.  The  town  considering 
their  motion  did  by  vote  agree  that  provided  they  purchased  a 
place  of  any  particular  person  to  set  their  house  upon  and  set  it 
accordingly  they  might  have  liberty  to  draw  twelve  pound  in 
money  Old  tenor  bills  out  of  the  town  treasury  to  purchase  the 
same.  The  site  had  already  been  selected  and  preparations  for 

10 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

building  made.  Although  the  sum  of  £12  was  named  in  the  deed 
as  consideration  (perhaps  to  make  the  acceptance  of  the  town's 
gift  legal),  the  lot  was  really  presented  to  them  by  John  Judd 
and  is  described  as  taken  from  his  house  lot.  It  was  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  West  Main  and  Willow  Streets,  the  lot  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Mitchell,  and  is  described  as  forty-five  feet  on 
the  south  side,  twenty-eight  feet  on  the  west,  fifty  feet  on  the 
north  and  thirty-nine  feet  on  the  east.  March  6,  1784,  Judge 
Joseph  Hopkins  leased  to  the  committee  of  the  Society  a  strip  five 
feet  wide  on  the  north  and  east  sides  of  the  church  lot.  Why  the 
lot  should  have  been  put  in  such  peculiar  shape  when  the  land  was 
open  in  either  direction  it  is  hard  to  see. 

By  deed  dated  November  23,  1797,  the  whole  lot  was  sold  to 
Jesse  Hopkins,  son  of  Judge  Hopkins.  The  church  and  parish 
bore  the  name  of  St.  James.  In  those  days  church  buildings  were 
not  warmed,  but  it  was  customary  to  have  a  small  building  in 
the  neighborhood,  with  fire  place,  where  those  who  came  from  a 
distance  could  spend  the  hour  between  services  and  be  warm 
and  comfortable  while  they  ate  their  luncheon,  and  could  fill 
their  foot  stoves  for  the  afternoon  service. 

These  buildings  were  called  Sabbath-day  houses,  or,  in  the 
language  of  the  time,  "  Sabbady  houses,"  A  building  of  this  sort 
containing  several  rooms  stood  on  South  Willow  Street  near 
where  is  now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  William  Brown. 

In  February,  1743-4,  the  Church-of -England-men  determined 
on  a  movement  to  obtain  parish  privileges.  Without  such  privi- 
leges they  could  not  lay  taxes  for  building  a  church.  Before 
going  to  the  Legislature,  however,  they  applied  to  the  town  to 
secure  its  good  will.  The  town,  in  a  liberal  spirit,  resolved  that 
it  would  not  oppose  them  in  their  application.  Their  petition, 
signed  by  thirty-eight  persons,  came  before  the  Assembly  in 
October,  1744,  and  was  rejected.  Here  is  the  paper: 

The  Memorial  of  the  subscribers  being  Professors  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land and  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Waterbury  in  New  Haven  County,  by 
their  agent  Doct.  Benj.  Warner  of  sd  Waterbury,  Humbly  sheweth — 

That  whereas  you  Honours  Memoriallists,  being  Professors  of  the  Church 
of  England,  and  bound  in  Duty  to  carry  on  the  Worship  of  God  amongst  us 

11 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


from  which  there  arises  considerable  charges  that  are  Necessary  in  order 
thereunto,  as  building  a  church  and  Keeping  it  in  Repair  with  many  other 
things  of  the  Like  Importance,  Which  charges  (as  we  your  Humble  Memori- 
alists think)  could  be  Defrayed  More  conveniently  by  a  Tax  upon  each  per- 
son accordin  to  their  list,  as  such  charges  are  in  the  Parishes  established  by 
the  Laws  of  this  colony.  And  there  being  no  Law  of  this  colony  Enabling 
us  to  Lay  and  Gather  such  Taxes,  Humbly  pray  that  your  Honours,  in  your 
Great  goodness,  would  be  pleased  to  Grant  us  Fairish  Previleges  in  Every 
perticular  (the  School  only  excepted)  as  the  Parrishes  have  established  accord- 
ing to  the  Constitution  of  this  Government,  and  your  Memorialists  as  in  Duty 
bound  Shall  ever  pray. 

Waterbury,  April  22d,  1744. 


JONATHAN  SCOTT, 
JOHN  BARNS, 
GERSHOM  SCOTT, 
GAMALIEL  TERRIL, 
ROBERT  JOHNSON, 
THOMAS  WELTON,  JR., 
TIMOTHY  PORTER, 
NATHAN  HUBBARD, 
BENJAMIN  PRITCHARD, 
THOMAS  WELTON, 
NATHAN  PRINDEL, 
EBENEZER  JUDD, 
DR.  EPHRAIM  WARNER, 


STEPHEN  WELTON, 
ZEBULON  SCOTT, 
ELIAKIM  WELTON, 
JOHN  ALCOCK, 
JOSEPH  BRTTNSON, 
JAMES  BROWNE, 
JAMES  BROWNE,  JR. 
JOSEPH  BROWNE, 
DANIEL  How, 
JOHN  BROWNE, 
THOMAS  BARNES, 
MOSES  BROUNSON, 
DANIEL  PORTER, 


BENJAMIN  WARNER, 
JOHN  JUDD, 
OBADIAH  WARNER, 
JONATHAN  PRINDEL, 
ISAAC  SELKRIGG, 
NATHANIEL  MERRILL, 
RICHARD  WELTON, 
JOSEPH  JUDD, 
RICHARD  WELTON,  JR. 
EDMUND  SCOTT,  JR., 
EBENEZER  WARNER, 
GEORGE  NIKOLS, 
JOSIAH  WARNER. 


This  catalogue  of  names  may  be  supposed  to  represent  nearly 
the  entire  strength  of  the  new  denomination  at  the  date  of  the 
petition.  I  notice,  however,  the  absence  of  three  names  which 
were  on  the  paper  of  subscriptions  for  a  church,  to  wit,  Nathaniel 
Gunn,  Thomas  Osborn  and  John  Southmayd,  Jr.,  and  of  five 
names  which  are  on  the  list  of  those  who  protested  to  the  paying 
of  Mr.  Southmayd  the  £100  in  1740,  to  wit,  Joseph  Smith,  Caleb 
Thomson,  James  Williams,  Abraham  Warner  and  Samuel  Brown. 
Of  these  eight,  John  Southmayd,  James  Williams  and  Samuel 
Brown  had  died  and  Caleb  Thomson  had  already,  probably, 
removed  to  Harwinton.  If  we  add  the  remaining  four,  all  Church- 
men (and  all  of  whom  were  living  in  Waterbury  in  1744,  unless 
Joseph  Smith  is  to  be  excepted),  to  the  thirty-eight  petitioners, 
we  have  a  total  number  of  forty-two  individuals,  representing 
probably  over  two  hundred  persons,  who  were  "professors  (or 

12 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

adherents)  of  the  Church  of  England,"  at  this  time.     (Dr.  H. 
Branson's  History  of  Waterbury.) 

This  was  an  era  of  prosperity  for  the  parish.  It  received 
several  valuable  gifts  of  land  from  the  members  (See  Chapter  on 
Real  Estate)  and  a  rectory  was  built  by  subscription.  This  was 
on  land  given  by  Oliver  Welton  and  must  have  been  not  far  from 
where  the  late  F.  L.  Curtiss's  house  now  stands.  It  was  the  third 
lot  from  Willow  street.  Oliver  inherited  it  from  his  grandfather 
John.  He  gave  it,  while  yet  a  minor,  with  consent  of  his  guardian, 
the  Rev.  John  Southmayd,  and  confirmed  the  deed  after  he  at- 
tained his  majority.  (See  Chapter  on  Real  Estate). 

Oliver  Welton,  considered  as  one  of  the  most  important  benefactors  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  of  Waterbury,  (the  land  spoken  of  being  regarded  as  a 
donation),  was  a  son  of  John  and  a  grandson  of  John,  Sen.,  (an  original  pro- 
prietor). He  was  born  December  24,  1724;  served  through  the  old  French 
war;  held  the  rank  of  ensign  and  afterwards  of  lieutenant;  was  in  the  action  at 
Lake  George  and  (according  to  the  Churchman's  Magazine)  at  "the  repulse 
at  Crown  Point  when  the  gallant  Lord  Howe  was  killed."  Of  those  scenes 
he  would  speak,  in  his  old  age,  with  the  greatest  emotion,  till  the  tears  flowed 
and  his  utterance  was  choked.  He  died  November  10,  1809. — (Henry  Bron- 
sons'  History.) 

In  1759  Mr.  Mansfield  gave  up  the  northward  end  of  his  large 
mission  field  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  James  Scovil,  who 
took  charge  of  Waterbury,  Northbury,  New  Cambridge  (now 
Bristol),  and  later  of  Westbury,  now  Watertown.  He  fixed 
his  residence  at  Waterbury,  thus  becoming  the  first  resident 
rector.  He  was  the  son  of  Lieutenant  William  Scovil  and  grand- 
son of  Sergeant  John  Scovil,  who  was  one  of  the  original  settlers 
of  the  town.  He  was  born  January  27,  1732-3,  and  probably  in 
the  house  on  Willow  street  long  known  as  the  "old  Johnson 
House,"  which  was  taken  down,  after  being  partly  destroyed  by 
fire,  in  1889,  being  at  that  time  by  far  the  oldest  house  in  town. 
This  house  was  built  by  Sergeant  John  Scovil  for  his  son  William, 
and  left  to  him  by  a  nuncupative  will  recorded  in  Woodbury,  to 
which  district  Waterbury  then  belonged,  in  1725.  About  the 
time  of  James's  birth,  William  Scovil  exchanged  places  with 
Abram  Utter  and  removed  to  that  part  of  Westbury  known  as 
Nova  Scotia  hill.  The  dates  on  the  record  indicate  that  this 

13 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

removal  took  place  subsequent  to  the  date  of  James's  birth,  but 
there  was  a  tradition  in  the  family  that  he  was  born  at  Nova 
Scotia  hill  probably  arising  simply  from  the  fact  that  his  father 
lived  there.  When  James  Scovil  was  about  ten  years  old,  his 
mother,  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  Richards  of  Waterbury, 
having  died,  his  father  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James 
Brown,  before  mentioned  as  the  first  Episcopalian  in  Waterbury. 

Whether  she  brought  Episcopacy  into  the  family  I  cannot 
say,  but  it  came  about  that  time,  as  William  Scovil's  name  appears 
as  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Society  in  Westbury  not  long 
before.  When  James  Scovil  was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  an 
injury  which  rendered  him  lame  for  a  time  and  placed  him  under 
the  care  of  Dr.  Porter  in  Waterbury  made  him  turn  his  attention 
to  study.  He  lived  during  this  time  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  South- 
mayd,  who  found  him  so  apt  a  scholar  that  he  urged  his  parents 
to  give  him  a  college  education.  This  being  approved,  he  at  once 
began  his  classical  studies.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Southmayd 
until  cured  of  his  lameness,  and  completed  his  preparation  for 
college  at  home,  probably  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Trum- 
bull.  He  graduated  at  Yale  in  1757. 

A  year  afterward  the  vestry  of  St.  James  Parish  voted  to  con- 
tribute to  the  expense  of  his  journey  to  England  for  ordination 
and  to  give  him  £20,  sterling,  a  year,  provided  he  got  nothing  at 
hum,  and  half  of  whatever  he  might  get  at  hum,  and  the  use  of 
the  glebe.  "Hum"  then  meant  England,  although  few  of  those 
vestrymen,  perhaps  none,  had  ever  seen  it.  At  the  same  meeting 
it  was  voted  that  we  give  him  £22.  10s.  sterling  to  carry  him 
hum.  On  April  1,  1759,  he  was  ordained  in  Westminister  Abbey 
by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  and  returned  as  a  recognized  mission- 
ary under  the  auspices  of  the  "  Ven.  S.  P.  G."  He  was  presented 
by  the  society,  at  his  ordination,  with  a  folio  Bible  and  Prayer- 
book,  bound  in  one  volume,  for  use  in  the  church.* 


*  After  doing  duty  here  for  many  years,  it  was  by  vote  of  the  Society  presented 
to  the  Episcopal  inhabitants  of  the  towns  of  Columbia  and  Waterbury  in  Ohio.  Some 
years  since,  Isaac  Bronson  of  Medina,  O.,  a  son  of  Dr.  Tillotscm  Branson,  finding  that 
the  book  was  no  longer  used,  made  arrangements  to  have  it  brought  back  to  this  place , 
where  it  now  remains  in  the  church,  in  a  case  with  suitable  inscription.  It  has  the 
seal  of  the  "Ven.  8.  P.  G."  and  bears  the  imprint  of  1737. 

14 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

The  following  document  was  found  among  the  papers  of  St. 
Peter's,  Plymouth,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gammack;  "  Northbury  in 
Waterbury,  July  ye  27,  A.  D.  1758. 

We  the  Subscribers  due  promse  to  pay  each  one  of  the  sums  that  we  sub- 
scribe in  this  paper  unto  Lieut.  Jacob  Blakeslee  and  David  Blakeslee  by  the 
first  day  of  October  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof;  and  we  the  subscribers  do 
by  these  presents  acknowledge  ourselves  to  be  firmly  bound  to  the  said  Blakes- 
lees  to  pay  to  them  the  sums  that  we  subscribe  by  the  1st  of  October  aforesaid, 
and  the  money  it  to  be  delivered  by  the  said  Blakeslee  to  Mr.  Scovill  in  order 
to  help  him  to  go  home  to  England  for  ordination  for  Ordination  for  Water- 
bury,  Northbury  and  Cambridge  for  to  be  our  minister. 

£    s.      d.qr.  £    s.      d.qr. 

Caleb  Thompson,     .      .     0     11       0.0     Mary  Way,   ...  6      5.0 

Isaac  Castel,       .      .      .     0     16     11.2    David  Way,        .      .  6      7.3 

Asahel  Castel,  .  .  .0  8  5.3  David  Blakeslee,  .21  8.2 
Stephen  Blakeslee,  .0  7  6.3  Jacob  Blakeslee,  .16  1.2 
Obediah  Scott,  .  .  .0  5  3.1  Mary  Ford,  .  .  .09  5.0 
Ebenezer  Ford,  .  .  1  5  5.1  Enos  Ford,  .  .  .  0  0  11.0 
Moses  Blakeslee,  .  .  0  10  1.0  Ruben  Blakeslee,  .08  8.2 
Ebenezer  Allin,  .  .  0  15  9.3 

There  is  also  a  memorandum  of  payments  showing  that  Abel  Curtis  whose 
name  does  not  appear  as  a  subscriber,  paid  1  shilling;  also  the  following: 
"Over  paid  by  me,  Jacob  Blakeslee,  to  Mr.  Scovill,  4. 18.5." 

Mr.  Scovil  continued  in  his  mission,  ministering  with  success 
to  his  several  charges,  until  the  disturbances  of  the  Revolution 
cut  off  the  assistance  of  the  Society  in  England.*  (For  details  see 
copy  of  records.)  Then  followed  a  period  of  great  hardship  for 
Episcopal  congregations.  They  naturally  sympathized  with  the 
mother  country  and  thus  drew  upon  themselves  and  especially 
on  the  clergy,  much  suspicion  and  frequently  open  hostility. 
Mr.  Scovil,  though  much  respected  by  his  neighbors,  did  not 
escape  his  share.  On  one  occasion,  when  returning  with  his  cows 


*In  1765,  a  number  of  the  clergy  "accident ly  convened"  addressed  the  venerable 
society  on  the  tumults  growing  out  of  the  Stamp  Act,  and  assured  their  ecclesiastical  su- 
periors that  they  and  their  people  "will  steadily  behave  themselves  as  true  and  faithful 
subjects"  and  as  "Obedient  sons  of  the  Church  of  England."  This  is  signed  by  James 
Scovil  and  four  others.  Hawks  &  Perry's,  Vol.  II,  p.  81 

Dr.  Johnson,  in  December,  1775,  writing  in  regard  to  political  troubles,  says: 
"The  Worthy  Mr  Scovil  and  the  venerable  Mr.  Beach  have  had  still  better  success. 
Scarce  a  single  person  is  to  be  found  in  any  of  then-  several  congregations  but  what  hath 
persevered  steadfastly  in  their  duty  and  loyalty  "     (Hawks  and  Perry's  Com.  Ch.  Doc.  11 
p.  198,  199. 

15 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

from  a  pasture  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  just  at  night-fall,  he 
discovered  a  man  loading  a  musket  in  the  borders  of  a  wood, 
whose  conduct  awakened  his  suspicion.  He  immediately  hastened 
to  him  and  asked  him  pleasantly  if  he  saw  any  game.  The  man 
replied,  rather  angrily,  "I  should  have  shot  you  if  you  had  not 
spoken  to  me,  for  I  knew  you  were  a  tory."  He  then  advised  him 
to  leave  his  cows  and  take  the  shortest  course  home,  or  he  might 
fall  a  victim  to  others  who  were  greatly  incensed  at  him  and 
might  not  be  appeased  by  being  spoken  to.  Mr.  Scovil  thought  it 
best  to  take  his  advice,  and  leaving  his  cows  crossed  the  fields, 
waded  the  river  and  hastened  to  his  home.  Party  spirit  seems, 
however,  to  have  run  very  high  just  then.  He  did  not  feel  safe 
in  his  own  house,  and  leaving  it  at  night  he  secreted  himself  in 
a  barn  which  belonged  to  him  on  Long  Hill,  where  he  remained 
hidden  for  some  time,  various  members  of  the  family  supplying 
him  with  food.  One  of  his  sons,  returning  on  one  occasion  from 
this  place  of  concealment,  was  met  by  two  soldiers,  who  took 
his  horse  from  him  and  compelled  him  to  walk  as  a  prisoner  to 
Stratford  (about  thirty  miles),  where  he  was  detained  some  time 
in  confinement.  He  had  been  guilty  of  no  overt  act,  and  naturally 
resented  this  treatment.  (The  Rev.  Dr.  Clark,  in  a  memorandum 
in  regard  to  Mr.  Scovil,  says:  "I  met  this  son  in  New  Brunswick 
in  1844.  He  was  then  near  eighty  years  of  age,  having  resided 
there  about  sixty  years,  and  every  wound  seemed  as  fresh  and 
sensitive  as  when  first  inflicted,  upon  what  he  termed  'the  rebel 
soil  of  the  States.'  He  averred  that  no  temptation  that  earth 
could  present  would  ever  induce  him  to  set  his  foot  on  soil  where 
he  had  received  such  unprovoked  and  cruel  wrongs."  Some  of 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  however,  did  not  share  his  feelings  and 
visited  here  occasionally  as  long  as  they  lived.) 

At  the  close  of  the  war  the  English  society  and  the  British 
government  offered  liberal  inducements  to  loyalists  who  should 
remove  to  the  British  colonies.  It  seemed  impossible,  in  the  dis- 
turbed condition  of  things,  for  the  parishes  here  to  give  Mr. 
Scovil  an  adequate  support,  although  they  offered  to  do  all  that 
they  could.  In  1788,  after  having  visited  New  Brunswick  and 
officiated  there  for  several  summers  (returning  to  spend  the 

16 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

winters  with  his  people  here),  he  removed  there  with  his  family 
five  years  after  the  close  of  the  war — thus  terminating  a  connection 
of  almost  thirty  years  with  the  parish.  He  became  rector  of 
Kingston  in  New  Brunswick,  where  he  died  December  19,  1808, 
in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  ministry.  He  was  succeeded  by  a  son 
and  by  a  grandson  in  the  same  parish.  His  wife,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Captain  George  Nichols,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Water- 
bury,  died  in  1835,  aged  ninety-three.  All  his  family  went  with 
him  except  his  oldest  son  James,  who  married  about  this  time  and 
settled  here,  and  who  continued  to  occupy  his  father's  residence, 
near  the  corner  of  North  and  East  Main  streets  but  fronting  on 
East  Main  Street.  The  barn  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Scovil  was  hidden, 
which  stood  on  almost  the  highest  point  of  Long  hill,  was  acei- 
dently  destroyed  by  fire  only  a  few  years  since.  Dr.  H.  Bronson, 
in  his  History  (page  302),  quoting  in  part  some  other  authority, 
says  of  him: 

"Mr.  Scovil  was  known  for  punctuality  and  faithfulness  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties.  He  taught  his  people  from  house  to 
house,  comforted  the  aged,  instructed  the  young  and  made  him- 
self agreeable  to  children.  He  had  a  grave  and  becoming  deport- 
ment and  was  sound  in  doctrine."  There  is  a  sermon  of  his 
extant  and  bearing  a  record  of  the  places  where  it  was  preached. 
It  is  very  much  like  other  sermons  of  this  period. 

The  following  inscription  to  the  memory  of  father  and  son 
appears  on  the  Chancel  Window  in  the  old  Church,  Kingston, 
N.  B. 

"The  Rev.  James  Scovil,  the  first  Rector,  took  charge  of  this  Mission  in 
1788,  and  lived  to  19th  December,  1808,  the  76th  year  of  his  age,  and  50th  of 
his  ministry.' ' 

"His  son,  the  Rev.  Elias  Scovil,  succeeded  him  as  Rector,  and  lived  to 
10th  February,  1841,  the  70th  year  of  his  life,  and  the  40th  of  his  ministry." 

"  Each,  after  he  had  served  his  own  generation,  by  the  will  of  God  fell-on- 
eleep  and  rests  here  beneath  the  Chancel." 

In  the  Vestry  Room  of  the  same  Church  may  be  seen  two 
tablets  in  memory  of  these  clergymen,  with  the  following 
inscriptions  : 

17 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


00 

In  memory  of 

REV.  JAMES  SCOVIL, 

Born  9th  Feb'y,  1733,  in  Watertown, 

State  of  Con.,  ordained  Presbyter 

By  the  Bishop  of  Rochester, 

8th  April,  1759,  employed  as  a 

Missionary  by  the  Venerable 

Society  at  Waterbury  until 

the  year  1788,  when  he  was 

removed  by  the  said  Society 

to  Kingston,  Province  of  New 

Brunswick,  and  constituted  the 

first  Rector  of  Trinity  Church, 

over  which  he  presided  until 

the  19th  Dec.,  1808,  when  he 

departed  this  life 

in  the  76th 
of  his  age,  and  in  the 
50th  of  his  ministry. 


In  memory  of 

THE  REV.  ELIAS  SCOVIL, 
who   as   a  missionary  of 

the  Ven.  Society 

P.  G.  F.  ministered  during 

38  years  in  this  Parish, 

from  1803,  as  assistant 

to  his  father 

THE  REV.  JAMES  SCOVIL 

at  whose  death,  in  1808, 

he  succeeded  as  Rector, 

and  having  discharged 

the  Pastoral  office  with  fidelity 

he  died  February  10th,  1841,  in  the 

70th  year  of  his  age, 

and  the  40th  of 

his  ministry. 


18 


THE  MISSION  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES. 

After  a  careful  reading  of  the  parish  records  I  am  inclined  to 
modify  somewhat  my  views  given  as  above  in  the  History  of  Water- 
bury,  as  to  the  reasons  of  Mr.  Scovil's  leaving  this  parish  and 
going  to  New  Brunswick.  Although  the  parish  undoubtedly  felt 
poor  and  must  have  been  keenly  alive  to  their  loss  of  the  pecuniary 
aid  and  moral  support  of  the  Ven.  S.  P.  G.  (they  had  during  forty 
years  received  over  $6000.  in  money  and  many  books)  they  never- 
theless met  these  misfortunes  with  great  courage  and  voted  that 
if  Mr.  Scovil  would  remain  with  them  they  would  pay  him  £45 
a  year  for  half  his  time,  leaving  him  to  get  what  he  could  for  the 
other  half  from  the  adjoining  parishes  which  he  supplied,  and 
this  apparently  not  having  proved  acceptable,  they  voted  to  unite 
with  Westbury  and  ask  him  upon  what  terms  he  could  remain, 
which  indicated  a  willingness  to  pay  him  any  reasonable  sum. 

After  considering  all  the  circumstances  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  Mr.  Scovil  did  not  leave  the  parish  for  lack  of  support  but 
from  other  motives,  and,  I  presume,  largely  through  the  influence 
of  his  children.  The  feeling  that  his  son  had  has  already  been 
shown,  and  doubtless  these  feelings  were  shared  by  other  members 
of  the  family.  He  probably  felt  that  the  Episcopal  Church  when 
deprived  of  the  support  of  the  S.  P.  G.  and  of  the  power  of  the 
British  government  would  be  greatly  handicapped  in  the  States 
and  the  offers  of  the  British  government  to  Clergy  going  to  the 
provinces  were  quite  liberal,  and  their  social  position  was  assured. 
Nevertheless,  before  deciding  to  remove  he  deemed  it  best  to 
spend  several  seasons  there  and  test  the  condition  of  things  for 
himself,  and  at  last,  probably  not  without  some  misgivings,  he 
yielded  to  what  I  suspect  was  the  importunity  of  members  of  his 
family  and  decided  to  make  the  change. 

Mr.  Scovil  was  a  man  of  influence  in  the  community  while  he 
remained  here  and  had  the  respect  of  his  brother  clergy  through- 
out the  Diocese.  He  owned  a  good  deal  of  land  and  probably 
farmed  it  as  was  the  custom  with  clergymen  of  those  times.  His 
son  James,  who  remained  here  took  the  real  estate  which  he  held 
here.  He  had  one  negro  man  Dick,  a  native  African,  who  at  one 
time  belonged  to  Deacon  Stephen  Bronson,  who  was  Mr.  Scovil's 
next  door  neighbor.  Perhaps  he  was  sold  to  Deacon  Bronson  on 
Mr.  Scovil's  removal.  Dick  lived  to  a  great  age  and  finally  died 
in  the  poorhouse  but  was  always  looked  after  and,  to  some  extent, 
provided  for  by  the  Scovil  family. 

19 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE    PARISH    OF    ST.    JAMES    AND   OF    ST.    JOHN. 
THE    TRANSITION    PERIOD. 

THE  parish  had  now  become  an  independent  organization. 
The  fostering  hand  of  the  Yen.  S.  P.  G.  had  been  provi- 
dentially withdrawn  and  hereafter  they  were  to  be  self 
sustaining  if  sustained  at  all.  They  accepted  the  situation.  They 
do  not  seem  to  have  been  troubled  by  it.  They  felt  that  they 
were  able  to  care  for  themselves.  There  may  have  been  regrets 
but  no  murmurs  come  to  the  surface.  All  the  business  matters 
of  the  parish  moved  along  as  before.  They  were  rather  weak  in 
numbers  but  not  weaker  than  other  parishes  around  them  whether 
of  Congregationalists  or  Episcopalians.  There  also  seems,  on  the 
whole,  to  have  existed  a  condition  of  pleasant  relationship  between 
the  two  denominations.  This  is  shown  by  the  vote  of  the  town 
(which  at  that  time  practically  represented  Congregationalism) 
when  the  Episcopalians  built  their  church.  Social  relations  were 
not  greatly  affected.  Inter-marriages  were  common  and  although 
there  was  doubtless  a  pretty  solid  sub-stratum  of  prejudice  on 
both  sides  it  was  not  often  brought  to  the  surface. 

A  story  is  told  that  one  of  the  daughters  of  a  prominent  Epis- 
copalian wished  to  borrow  a  horse  and  sent  to  a  neighbor  for  that 
purpose;  the  messenger  brought  back  word  that  his  horse  was 

lame,  but  that — ,  another  neighbor  (who  was  a  Congre- 

gationalist)  had  a  good  horse.  The  mother  to  whom  the  message 
was  given  replied  "Oh,  my!  that's  no  use,  Roxa  couldn't  ride 
anything  but  a  church  horse." 

This  may  be  offset  by  another.  There  was  some  discussion 
of  an  Episcopal  family  and  the  question  was  asked,  Are  they  pious? 
Well — yes — I  spose  so,  that  is,  Episcopal  pious.  But  these  were 
prejudices  which  a  wider  knowledge  of  the  world  served  to  dispel, 
and  they  did  not  greatly  interfere  with  neighborly  borrowing, 
lending  and  gossiping,  and  marrying  and  giving  in  marriage. 

December  3,  1787,  when  it  had  become  clear  that  Mr.  Scovil 

20 


THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

was  to  leave  them,  the  society  voted  to  settle  a  minister  and  have 
his  service  in  preaching  half  the  time.  Some  little  time  elapsed 
before  they  succeeded  in  finding  a  man  whom  they  liked  and  who 
was  willing  to  come.  Correspondence  was  had  with  Rev.  Messrs. 
Ives,  Hall,  Foot,  Prindle  and  Blakeslee  and  each  of  them  preached 
here  more  or  less.  Meantime  in  reply  to  a  proposition  to  unite 
with  Westbury,  Salem  and  Bristol  for  one-fourth  of  a  clergyman's 
time  for  each,  this  society  voted  that  they  wanted  "one-half." 
At  length,  May  28,  1789,  it  was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Solomon  Blakes- 
lee a  call  for  one-half  the  time  at  £40  a  year  and  his  firewood,  to 
be  increased  to  £45  as  the  list  of  the  church  increases. 

Mr.  Blakeslee  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  college,  in  the  class  of 
1785,  was  ordained  deacon  at  St.  Paul's  church,  Norwalk,  June  3, 
1789,  and  priest  at  Middletown  by  Bishop  Seabury  in  1793.  As 
his  service  here  was  in  1789  it  must  have  been  immediately  after 
his  ordination  as  deacon.  He  afterward  succeeded  Bishop  Sea- 
bury  in  St.  James's  parish,  New  London,  and  served  at  several 
places  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  He  died  in  1835. 

At  a  meeting  June  16,  1790  it  is  voted  ("  Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle 
present,  etc.")  from  which  it  would  appear  that  Mr.  Blakeslee  had 
left  and  Mr.  Prindle  was  probably  in  temporary  charge. 

Chauncey  Prindle,  the  only  son  of  Eleazar  and  Anne  (Scovil)  Prindle,  of 
Waterbury,  Connecticut,  and  grand-son  of  Jonathan  and  Rachel  (Hickox) 
Prindle  of  Waterbury,  was  born  in  that  town  on  July  13,  1753.  His  mother 
was  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  James  Scovil.  He  graduated  at  Yale  1776. 

He  studied  theology — probably  under  the  superintendence  of  his  uncle — 
and  officiated  as  lay  reader  in  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Watertown  during 
part  of  Mr.  ScoviFs  (the  rector's)  absences  in  New  Brunswick,  which  began  in 
1785  and  ended  in  his  final  removal  in  the  summer  of  1788. 

On  June  1,  1787,  he  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Seabury,  and  there- 
after gave  about  half  of  his  time  to  the  parish  in  Northbury,  now  Plymouth. 
He  was  advanced  to  the  priesthood  by  Bishop  Seabury,  in  New  London,  on 
February  24,  1788,  and  was  now  regularly  employed  as  Rector  of  Christ 
Church,  Watertown,  with  a  salary  of  £30 — half  of  his  time  being  given  to  St. 
Peter's  Church  in  Plymouth,  which  furnished  £37. 10s.  to  his  salary. 

He  resigned  his  charge  in  Watertown  at  the  end  of  the  year  1804,  but 
continued  to  officiate  in  Plymouth  until  1806,  when  he  resigned  to  enable 
that  parish  to  be  united  with  the  parish  of  St.  Matthew's  in  East  Plymouth 
(organized  in  1792)  under  one  rectorship. 

21 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

He  was  then  employed  in  the  same  vicinity,  to  give  a  portion  of  his  time 
to  St.  Michael's  Church,  in  the  neighborhood  known  as  "  Gunntown,' '  in  the 
western  part  of  Salem  Society,  now  Naugatuck;  and  in  1807  removed  to  the 
neighboring  town  of  Oxford,  and  for  a  few  years  divided  his  services  between 
the  churches  hi  these  two  localities.  He  also  officiated  for  a  time  in  Christ 
Church,  in  that  part  of  Woodbridge  which  is  now  Bethany,  and  in  1815-17 
he  had  charge  of  Trinity  Church  in  that  part  of  Derby  which  is  now  Seymour. 

During  his  last  years  he  lived  on  a  farm  in  the  northern  part  of  Oxford, 
near  the  borders  of  Southbury,  and  died  there,  in  poverty,  on  August  25,  1833, 
at  the  age  of  80,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Gunntown.  His  wife 
Rosanna  died  on  October  22,  1840,  aged  85  years.  Their  two  daughters 
(born  about  1784-93),  who  died  shortly  before  their  parents,  are  commemo- 
rated on  tombstones  in  the  same  locality. 

He  is  described  as  a  most  worthy  and  indefatigable  man,  a  pattern  of 
punctuality  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  One  authority  says  that  he  was 
noted  for  a  sound  and  forcible  intellect  and  stern  integrity,  but  was  orthodox 
and  firm  in  his  principles.  It  is  related  of  him  that  he  swam  his  horse 
through  a  high  and  dangerous  flood  in  the  Naugatuck  River  rather  than  fail 
in  an  appointment  for  a  service. 

A  gravestone  was  erected  to  his  memory  by  surviving  friends  and  parish- 
ioners "  as  a  token  of  their  high  regard  for  his  character,  his  zeal,  his  fidelity, 
his  talents  and  his  work  both  as  a  man  and  a  minister.' ' 

A  brief  historical  account  from  his  manuscripts  of  the  Episcopal  Societies 
in  Plymouth  and  Watertown  is  printed  in  the  Chronicle  of  the  Church,  Vol.  3, 
No.  134  (New  Haven,  July  26,  1839),  pp.  236-37. 

September  13,  1790:  Voted  to  invite  Mr.  Foot  to  serve  two- 
thirds  of  his  time  and  to  pay  him  §  of  £85  s.  m.  (sterling  money) 
and  his  wood  provides  he  reside  in  this  society. 

David  Foot  was  born  in  Marlborough,  October  5,  1760,  gradu- 
ated at  Dartmouth  college  in  1778,  was  ordained  deacon  at  New 
London  by  Bishop  Seabury,  June  11,  1788,  and  was  then  appointed 
to  serve  in  Hebron  and  Chatham.  In  October  of  the  same  year 
he  was  ordained  priest  at  North  Haven.  After  leaving  here, 
he  became  rector  at  Rye,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  August  1,  1793. 

On  November  13,  1784,  Dr.  Samuel  Seabury,  having  been 
selected  for  the  office  by  the  clergy  of  this  diocese  in  March,  1783, 
at  a  meeting  held  in  Woodbury,  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Con- 
necticut at  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  becoming  thus  the  first  bishop 
of  the  American  church.  He  reached  this  country  in  1785,  and 

22 


THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

in  May,  1786,  a  committee  from  the  parish  waited  on  him  at 
Stratford  and  desired  him  to  visit  Waterbury.  He  could  not  do 
so  at  that  time,  but  in  October  1,  following,  it  is  recorded  that  he 
confirmed  here  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  persons.  That  must 
have  been  equal  to  about  one-tenth  of  the  population,  and  the 
occasion  was  one  of  profound  rejoicing  among  "churchmen." 
This,  too,  was  in  the  darkest  days  of  the  church  here,  before  Mr. 
Scovil  had  finally  left,  but  when  he  was  preparing  to  go,  and  when 
they  were  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd. 

August  27,  1791,  after  several  ineffectual  attempts  with  other 
clergymen  they  voted  to  call  Rev.  Seth  Hart  for  one-half  the  time. 

In  October,  1791,  the  Rev.  Seth  Hart,  who  had  been  officiating 
for  some  time  previously  as  lay  reader,  was  ordained  deacon  by 
Bishop  Seabury  at  Watertown,  an  agreement  being  made  that  he 
was  to  officiate  here  half  the  time,  the  other  half  to  be  divided 
between  Salem  and  Woodbury.  His  salary  was  £40,  lawful 
money,  the  first  year,  to  be  increased  £1  annually  until  it  reached 
£45,  and  the  use  of  the  glebe.  I  suppose  this  was  equal  to  about 
$150,  but  it  was  in  "ready  money,"  which  went  a  great  way  in 
those  days,  and  the  use  of  the  glebe  was  doubtless  of  considerable 
value.  Mr.  Hart's  ministry  here  is  said  to  have  been  quite  suc- 
cessful, but  he  only  remained  about  two  years  after  his  ordination, 
and  then  removed  to  Wallingford.  It  is  recorded  that  he  was  a 
good  scholar,  an  amiable  man,  a  successful  teacher  and  an  accept- 
able preacher.  While  here  he  owned  and  occupied  the  place 
next  south  of  St.  John's  church  (Mrs.  E.  M.  Bun-all's),  including 
the  ground  where  the  church  now  stands  and  several  acres  of 
adjoining  land.  When  he  left,  several  liberal  persons  bought 
his  place  and  presented  it  to  the  church,  the  old  rectory  before 
mentioned  having  become  unfit  for  use  during  Mr.  Scovil's  rector- 
ship. It  was  afterwards  sold,  and  the  present  site  was  repur- 
chased about  1847.  (See  chapter  on  Real  Estate.) 

The  following  sketch  of  Mr.  Hart  is  taken  from  the  Mss. 
of  an  address  delivered  at  the  Bi-centenary  of  St.  George's 
Church,  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  by  Rev.  Howard  Falkner,  A.B.B.D., 
Rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Baltimore,  Md.,  for  the  use  of 

23 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

which  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  James  Shepard,  Esq., 
of  New  Britain. 

Rev.  Seth  Hart,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Kensington  parish,  Berlin,  Conn., 
June  21, 1763,  son  of  Matthew  and  Elizabeth  (Hopkins)  Hart.  He  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1784  and  studied  medicine  and  seems  to  have  practiced 
for  a  short  time.  In  1788  he  married  Ruth  Hall,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Hall 
of  Cheshire.  She  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  attractive  and  superior  woman. 
In  1790  he  decided  to  give  up  the  medical  profession  and  become  an  Episcopal 
clergyman.  He  was  almost  immediately  assigned  to  duty  as  a  lay  reader  in 
the  parishes  of  Waterbury,  Woodbury  and  Salem.  Waterbury  was  his  place 
of  residence  and  he  remained  here  about  two  years  when  he  removed  to  Wal- 
lingford.  For  the  next  four  years  he  had  charge  of  Christ  Church,  Wethers- 
field,  but  resided  in  Worthington  Parish  which  is  mostly  in  Berlin. 

In  1797  he  made  a  journey  to  Ohio  as  an  agent  of  the  Connecticut  Land 
Company,  taking  charge  of  the  second  party  of  exploration,  the  first  having 
gone  the  previous  year  under  Gen.  Moses  Cleveland. 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Hart  was  not  only  a  clergyman  and  a  doctor  but  a  prac- 
tical land  surveyor  which  made  him  a  very  desirable  person  for  a  position  of 
this  sort.  Near  Cleveland  one  of  their  party  was  drowned  in  crossing  a  river 
and  was  buried  at  Cleveland,  Mr.  Hart  officiating,  and  soon  after  his  arrival 
he  was  called  upon  to  solemnize  a  marriage.  He  also  preached  to  his  own 
party  on  Sunday  and  these  are  supposed  to  be  the  first  services  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  in  that  part  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  On  his  return  he  resumed  his 
pastoral  duties.  He  was  evidently  a  good  'all  around'  man. 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Hart  was  also  a  natural  mechanic.  He  invented  a 
machine  for  shearing  cloth,  and  one  for  making  nails,  which  was  patented 
January  14,  1799.  His  interests  in  mechanics  was  a  very  strong  one  and  he 
probably  spent  a  large  part  of  his  time  and  money  over  inventions. 

In  1800  he  was  elected  Rector  of  St.  George's,  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  March  14,  1832. 

He  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  a  rather  remarkable  range  of  knowledge, 
and  fairly  successful  in  all  that  he  undertook. 

The  affairs  of  the  parish  and  its  people  were  now  clearly  pros- 
pering. The  old  St.  James's  church,  at  the  corner  of  Willow 
Street,  had  been  occupied  nearly  fifty  years,  and  both  the  needs 
and  the  pride  of  the  parish  demanded  a  better  house.  In  April, 
1793,  during  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hart's  ministry,  a  committee  was 
appointed,  "to  agree  upon  a  place  to  set  a  church  and  the  bigness 
of  the  same,"  and  in  September  following,  having  voted  that  the 
society  were  willing  and  thought  it  necessary  to  build  a  church, 
Eli  Curtis,  Esq.,  Jude  Blakeslee  and  Captain  Amos  Bronson  were 

24 


THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

chosen  a  committee  "to  set  a  stake  for  the  place  where  to  build 
a  church/'  and  the  town  appointed  a  committee  to  agree  with 
them.* 

At  a  Town  Meeting  held  by  Adjournment  on  the  16th  Day  of  Sept.  1793. 

Voted:  That  Messrs.  Aaron  Benedict,  Joseph  Hopkins,  Esq.,  Capt.  Benja- 
min Upson,  John  Kingsbury,  Esq.,  &  William  Leavenworth  be  a  Committee 
to  meet  and  agree  with  a  Committee  from  the  Episcopal  Society  on  a  place 
where  the  said  Episcopal  Society  Shall  build  a  Church  or  Meeting  House  and 
when  the  Place  is  agreed  upon  by  the  said  Episcopal  Society  And  approved  of 
by  the  Committee  now  Appointed  by  the  Town,  then  the  Committee  now 
appointed  are  hereby  authorized  to  give  the  assent  of  the  Town  thereto. 
Town  Meetings,  Vol.  2,  p.  105. 

The  following  action  seems  to  be  a  recognition  of  the  location: 
Waterbury  7th  of  December  A.  D.  1797,  Then,  was  laid  out  a  piece  of  land 
for  a  highway  on  the  south  side  of  the  green  in  the  center  of  the  town 
between  the  new  Church  and  Israel  Holmes  land  lying  north  of  a  straight 
line  from  the  gate  of  the  Door  yard  of  the  Glebe  house  to  the  Northeast 
corner  of  Wd.  Susannah  Bronsons  house  containing  seventeen  rods  and  a 
half  of  land  and  in  the  whole  land  that  Ard  Welton  bought  of  Capt.  Samuel 
Judd  &  Israel  Holmes. 

RICHARD  WELTON,  \  Qefastmen. 
NOAH  BALDWIN,       J 

For  a  valuable  consideration  I  the  subscriber  do  release  and  by  these  presents 
forever  quit  claim  all  my  right,  Title,  Interest  in  the  land  taken  for  the  above 
mentioned  highway  as  a  highway  forever. 

Reed   Dec.  19th,  1797.  Witness  my  hand,    ARD  WELTON. 

A  true  record.     Attest. 

JOHN  KINGSBURY,  Register. 
Highways  Vol.  2,  p.  373. 

Before  this  the  South  line  of  the  green  had  run  diagonally 
north  west  from  the  Bronson  land  to  near  the  corner  of  the 
present  church.  Church  Street  was  not  yet  opened  but  this 
action  set  the  line  back  to  correspond  with  the  south  side  of  the 
street  further  east. 


*These  gentlemen  were  all  non-residents.  Eli  Curtis  was  a  lawyer  residing  in  Water- 
town  and  I  think  Mr.  Blakeslee  and  Captain  Bronson  were  both  from  Plymouth.  Difficulties 
and  heart  burnings  so  frequently  arose  in  those  days  from  differences  of  opinion  as  to  the 
proper  location  of  churches  and  schools  that  it  was  quite  customary  to  call  in  a  committee 
of  disinterested  persons  from  neighboring  towns  to  "set  a  stake."  Whether  this  parish 
in  its  wisdom  avoided  all  trouble  by  appointing  the  committee  at  the  outset,  or  whether 
some  difficulties  had  already  arisen,  I  do  not  know.  That  there  were  difficulties,  however, 
very  clearly  appears. 

25 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Whether  the  above  named  committee  acted  or  not,  the  record 
does  not  show,  but  in  December  following  another  committee, 
namely,  John  Wooster  of  Derby,  Thomas  Atwater  of  Cheshire  and 
Abner  Bradley  of  Woodbury,  were  appointed,  and  this  time  under 
the  sanction  of  the  county  court,  which  had  jurisdiction  when  ap- 
plied to  in  such  matters.  Still  they  were  not  quite  satisfied,  and  in 
the  following  March  the  court  and  committee  were  asked  to  place 
the  stake  five  rods  further  south,  so  that  the  first  stake  must 
have  been  driven  very  nearly  where  the  Soldiers'  monument  is. 
Both  these  stakes  were  set  on  ground  belonging  to  the  town. 

On  February  9, 1795,  a  vote  was  passed  directing  the  committee 
to  "build  a  decent,  well-furnished  church  fifty-four  by  thirty- 
eight  feet,  with  a  decent  steeple  on  the  outside,  at  the  east  end  of 
the  same."  By  arrangement  already  referred  to  the  church  was 
placed  on  public  ground  at  the  west  end  of  the  green. 

This  church  building  was  a  great  credit  to  the  parish.  Its 
gallery  windows  were  arched  at  the  top — a  feature  which  was 
supposed  to  give  it  a  churchly  appearance — and  it  had  a  tall, 
slender,  gracefully  tapering  spire,  on  the  top  of  which  shone  a 
bright  gilt  star,  with  a  handsome  gilt  vane  just  beneath.  David 
Hoadley  was  the  architect.  The  interior  was  divided  into  square 
pews  with  seats  on  three  sides;  the  ceiling  was  arched  between 
the  galleries;  the  pulpit  was  high,  with  winding  stairs  on  each 
side  and  the  reading  desk  in  front  of  it  below.  They  were  of  dark 
wood,  probably  cherry.  The  robing-room  was  near  the  entrance 
of  the  church.  After  reading  the  service,  which  was  done  in  a 
surplice,  the  minister  walked  the  length  of  the  church  to  the 
robing-room,  laid  aside  his  surplice,  returned  and  slowly  mounted 
the  long  pulpit  stairs  in  his  black  gown.  If  done  with  dignity 
this  was  quite  an  effective  part  of  the  service.  The  crowning 
glory  of  the  church  consisted  of  two  large  fresco  paintings, 
one  at  either  end  of  the  arched  ceiling  of  the  church  on  the  pedi- 
ments over  the  pulpit  and  over  the  choir  gallery.  As  I  remember 
them,  they  occupied  the  whole  of  the  pediments,  or  ends  of  the 
arch.  They  were  painted  in  different  shades  of  green  on  a  white 
ground.  The  subject  of  that  over  the  pulpit  was  the  baptism  of 
Jesus  by  John  in  the  river  Jordan.  The  Jordan  was  a  very  res- 

26 


ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH,  1797. 


THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

pectable  stream,  looking  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  in  the 
picture,  and  the  landscape  on  the  further  side  was  quite  inviting. 
I  always  thought,  while  looking  at  it,  of  the  hymn: 

On  Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand, 

And  cast  a  wistful  eye 
To  Canaan's  fair  and  happy  land, 

Where  my  possessions  lie. 

I  could  not  swim,  and  the  idea  of  "crossing  the  Jordan/'  which 
was  a  popular  synonym  for  entrance  into  the  next  world,  was  not 
inviting.  The  river  seemed  altogether  too  deep  to  wade.  The 
picture  at  the  other  end  was  a  village  green  on  which  was  a 
church — the  church,  I  suppose,  in  which  the  picture  was — with 
rather  stiff  trees  and  a  long  row  of  people  moving  toward  the 
sanctuary,  conspicuous  among  whom  was  the  rector,  marked 
by  his  shovel  hat.  To  my  boyish  eyes  these  pictures  were  mar- 
vels of  art. 

At  the  same  time  that  this  church  was  being  built  the  Congre- 
gational society  was  erecting  one  at  the  other  end  of  the  Green, 
and  a  healthy  spirit  of  emulation  was  doubtless  of  considerable 
advantage  to  both  buildings.  The  new  church  was  consecrated 
by  the  name  of  St.  John's  on  November  1, 1797,  by  Bishop  Jarvis.* 

The  following  is  the  formal  Act  of  Consecration.  The  petition 
is  in  the  handwriting  of  Lieut.  Michael  Bronson,  son  of  Esquire 
Ezra  Bronson,  who  had  a  local  reputation  as  a  chirographer. 
The  sentence  of  Consecration  appears  to  be  in  the  Bishop's  own 
hand. 

FORASMUCH  as  Almighty  God  has  been  pleased  to  put  it  into  the  hearts 
of  the  Parishioners  of  the  first  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Waterbury 
to  build  a  new  Church  in  said  Parish,  for  the  Celebration  of  his  Worship 
according  to  the  Liturgy  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  has  in  the  course  of  his  good  Providence  enabled  them 
to  complete  the  same:  and  as  it  is  their  full  purpose  and  earnest  desire  that 
the  said  new  Church,  to  be  called  St.  John's  Church,  be  dedicated  to  the  Wor- 
ship and  service  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  Liturgy  aforesaid. 

THEREFORE  the  said  Parishioners  being  legally  Assembled  in  Society 
Meeting  in  said  Parish  on  the  Twelfth  day  of  October,  Anno  Domini  1797  did 


*So  far  as  can  be  discovered  Mr.  Green  had  left  at  the  time  of  the  consecration  and 
the  church  was  without  a  rector. 

27 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

unanimously  resolve  and  Vote,  to  request  the  Right  Reverend  Doctor  Jarvis, 
their  Diocesan  Bishop,  to  attend  in,  and  Consecrate  the  said  new  Church  to 
the  Worship  of  God  according  to  the  Liturgy  aforesaid,  and  at  the  time  of 
said  Consecration  a  Deed  of  Dedication  should  be  made  and  delivered  in 
common  and  usual  form — And  the  said  Parishioners  at  the  aforesaid  Meeting 
did  unanimously  Vote  that  the  Church  Wardens,  Messrs.  Ephraim  Warner, 
Hermon  Munson,  together  with  Messrs.  Seba  Bronson,  Isaac  Benham  and 
John  Cossett  be  a  Committee  to  Execute  and  Deliver  in  the  name  of  said 
Society,  said  Deed  of  Dedication — Therefore  persuant  to  the  several  Votes 
of  said  Society  above  referred  to,  and  for  the  Reasons  aforesaid — We  the  said 
Church  Wardens  and  Committee  of  said  Society  Do  by  these  Presents  for  our- 
selves in  the  Capacity  aforesaid,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  several  Members  of 
said  Society  Successors,  Dedicate,  Appropriate,  Give  and  Grant  the  said 
new  Church,  by  us  and  them  erected  unto  Almighty  God  our  Heavenly 
King  and  Father,  to  be  consecrated  and  sett  apart  for  the  use  of  his  Holy 
Worship  and  Service  according  to  the  Liturgy  aforesaid — Divesting  ourselves 
of  all  Right  and  Title,  and  disclaiming  all  Authority  ever  hereafter  to  employ 
it  in  any  common  or  profane  use — And  we  the  said  Church  Wardens  and  Com- 
mittee do  now  acquaint  the  Right  Reverend  Doctor  Jarvis  our  Diocesan 
Bishop  herewith,  and  in  behalf  of  said  Society  do  request  that  he  would  Con- 
secrate the  said  new  Church  to  Almighty  God  and  sett  it  apart  to  be  forever 
hereinafter  employed  in  his  holy  Worship  and  Service,  hereby  promising  in 
behalf  of  said  Society  and  then-  Successors,  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  to  take  care  of 
the  Repairs  of  said  Church,  that  it  may  be  kept,  together  with  its  Furniture, 
Sacred  Utensills  and  Books  in  a  decent  state  for  the  celebration  of  Divine 
Service;  And  also  that  we  will  as  God  shall  enable  us,  endeavour  always  to  pro- 
cure and  support  a  Minister  hi  Priests  Orders,  to  Celebrate  Gods  Holy  Wor- 
ship in  said  new  Church,  according  to  the  Liturgy  aforesaid. 

IN  WITNESS  whereof  we  the  said  Church  Wardens  and  Committee  (in 
behalf  of  said  Society)  hereunto  sett  our  hands  and  seals  this  first  day  of  No- 
vember, Anno  Domini,  1797. 

In  presence  of 

REUBEN  IVES,  EPHRAIM  WARNER, 

DAVID  BADGER,  HERMAN  MUNSON, 

SEBA  BRONSON, 
ISAAC  BENHAM, 
JOHN  COSSET. 

Be  it  known  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  on  the  first  day  of  Novem- 
ber in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-seven,  the 
foregoing  instrument  of  Dedication  was  presented  unto  us,  the  Bishop  of 
Connecticut,  at  the  Holy  Table,  by  Ephraim  Warner,  the  senior  church  War- 
den, and  openly  read  before  the  congregation  there  assembled.  And  that  in 

28 


THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

consequence  thereof  the  said  Church,  called  St.  John's  Church,  was,  on  that 
day,  duly  consecrated,  and  set  apart  for  the  worship  and  Service  of  Almighty 
God  forever. 

In  Witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  affixed  our  Episcopal  Seal,  the 
day  and  year  above  written,  and  the  first  year  of  our  consecration. 


Sigil,  Episc.  Connect. 


(signed)  ABRM.  CONNECT. 

After  Mr.  Hart's  departure  the  pulpit  was  partially  supplied 
for  a  time  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  V.  Griswold  and  by  the  Rev. 
William  Green.  Of  Mr.  Griswold  nothing  more  need  be  said  here 
than  that  he  subsequently  became  Bishop  of  Massachusetts. 
The  Rev.  William  Green  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  college 
in  1791.  He  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Seabury  at  New 
London,  October  18,  1793.  To  the  record  of  the  ordination  the 
bishop  adds:  "Mr.  Green  was  ordained  on  my  own  personal 
knowledge  of  him  and  on  recommendation  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bela 
Hubbard  of  New  Haven;  he  was  licensed  to  preach  and  purposes 
to  go  into  Maryland."  The  Dartmouth  college  catalogue  says 
that  he  died  in  1801,  aged  thirty.  Where  he  spent  the  few  years 
that  intervened  between  his  service  here  and  his  death  I  have  not 
learned. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  the  church,  in  December,  1797, 
the  Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson,  who  had  officiated  here  and  in  Bristol 
for  some  months,  became  the  rector,  with  the  agreement  that  he 
was  to  officiate  here  three-fourths  of  the  time  and  one-fourth  in 
Salem  society.  His  salary  was  $250.  In  June,  1806,  not  feeling 
able  longer  to  support  his  family  on  this  sum,  and  the  parish 
being  unable  (or  unwilling)  to  increase  it,  he  preached  his  farewell 
sermon,  and  retired,  with  the  approbation  of  the  bishop  and  the 
good  will  of  the  people. 

Dr.  Tillotson  Bronson  (D.  D.,  Brown  university,  1813),  was  the  son  of 
Captain  Amos  Bronson  of  Plymouth,  whose  residence  was  at  Jerico  on  the 
Naugatuck  river.  He  was  born  there  January  8,  1762,  fitted  for  college  with 
the  Rev.  John  Trumbull,  Congregational  pastor  of  Watertown,  graduated  at 
Yale  in  1786,  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Mansfield  and  Bishop  Seabury,  was 

29 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

ordained  deacon  September  11,  1787,  and  priest  February  24,  1788.  He 
preached  for  a  year  in  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  which  was  the  missionary 
ground  of  that  period:  then  for  a  while  in  Boston  and  at  several  places  in 
this  state,  and  also  taught  school.  While  in  Waterbury  he  lived  in  a  house  on 
Grand  Street  which  was  taken  down  in  1882  to  make  room  for  the  Baptist 
church.  He  owned  the  place  and  sold  it  to  his  successor,  the  Rev.  V.  H. 
Barber.  From  Waterbury  he  went  to  New  Haven  to  take  charge  of  the 
Churchman's  Magazine,  a  periodical  then  recently  established,  which  he  con- 
tinued to  edit  with  ability  for  some  years.  Only  a  few  months,  however,  after 
leaving  Waterbury  he  was  appointed  by  the  Convention  principal  of  the 
Episcopal  Academy  at  Cheshire.  He  removed  there,  and  after  a  long  and 
successful  career  as  the  head  of  that  institution  he  died  September  6,  1826. 
He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  church  and  plenty  of  material  exists  for  a 
fuller  biography,  but  it  relates  to  his  life  after  leaving  here. 

I  notice  on  the  record  (as  a  sign  of  progress)  that  on  August  19, 
1799,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  procure  subscriptions  to 
purchase  a  bass  viol.  On  December  8,  1803,  it  was  "voted  to 
dignify  the  pews."  This  consisted  in  allotting  the  seats  in  the 
church  to  the  members  of  the  congregation  according  to  their 
"dignity,"  the  standard  being  a  fixed  one,  based  partly  upon 
age,  partly  on  the  amount  of  tax  paid  and  partly  on  official  or 
social  standing. 

Dr.  Bronson  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Virgil  Horace  Barber, 
who  remained  here  from  June  16,  1807,  until  May  6,  1814.  He 
was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Barber  of  Claremont,  N.  H.  He  was 
ordained  deacon  June  9,  1805,  and  priest,  September  20,  1807. 
I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  where  he  was  educated,  but  he  was 
a  scholarly  man  and  a  superior  teacher,  and  while  here  main- 
tained a  school  of  high  order.  He  doubtless  discharged  his  min- 
isterial duties  with  zeal,  but  it  was  as  an  inspiring  and  instructive 
teacher  that  he  did  most  for  the  generation  to  which^he  belonged, 
and  his  influence  was  long  felt.  It  is  said  that  he  required  his  own 
family,  including  the  pupils  who  resided  with  him,  to  converse 
in  Latin.  He  was,  however,  eccentric  and  somewhat  unpractical. 
I  find  this  entry  on  the  parish  records  when  he  had  been  here  but 
six  months: 

"December  29,  1807.  Voted  to  send  Mr.  Justus  Warner  to  the  town  of 
Claremont,  N.  H.,  to  know  the  reason  of  Mr.  Barber's  not  returning  to  this 
town,  and  to  give  Mr.  Warner  $14.  for  his  expenses." 

30 


THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

There  were  no  telegraphs,  and  letters  had  evidently  failed. 
We  know  that  Mr.  Barber  came  back,  but  why  not  sooner  remains 
a  mystery.  He  left  here  to  become  principal  of  an  academy  at 
F  airfield,  N.  Y.,  but  two  years  later  (in  1816)  became  a  Roman 
Catholic,  and,  placing  his  wife  and  children  in  a  convent,  went, 
July,  1817,  to  Rome,  and  after  a  period  of  study  became  a  priest 
in  the  Society  of  Jesuits.  A  clergyman  who  had  known  him  here 
visited  him  in  Rome,  and  found  him  an  inmate  of  a  Jesuit  college 
under  the  name  of  Signer  Barberini,  clothed  in  the  habit,  and 
practicing  the  austerities  which  belong  to  the  order.  After  his 
return  from  Rome  he  went  in  1822,  by  direction  of  his  superior, 
to  Claremont,  where  he  established  a  Roman  Catholic  church. 
Later  he  was  sent  on  a  mission  to  the  Indian  tribes  in  Maine  and 
to  various  towns  in  that  state  where  there  were  Roman  Catholic 
residents  without  pastors.  He  was  afterward  assigned  to  duty 
in  Maryland  and  that  vicinity.  He  died  at  Georgetown,  D.  C., 
March  27,  1847. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  Barber,  the  father  of  Virgil  H.  Barber,  was  a  native 
of  Simsbury,  and  was  born  October  2,  1756.  In  1827,  when  he  was  seventy- 
one  years  old,  he  published,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  a  pamphlet  entitled  "His- 
tory of  My  Own  Times,' '  which  is  of  considerable  value  as  a  picture  of  the 
period.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution  and  kept  a  diary,  portions  of 
which  are  contained  in  his  pamphlet  and  are  also  copied  in  the  sketch  of  Sims- 
bury  in  Barber's  Historical  Collections  of  Connecticut.  The  Barbers  seem  to 
have  been  an  independent  family,  much  given  to  speculative  theology  (the 
main  source  of  recreation  for  thinking  people  in  those  times),  and  always  having 
the  courage  of  their  convictions,  if  not  a  little  to  spare.  Daniel's  father  and 
mother  each  had  their  own  views  and  stood  by  them.  "They  could  never 
agree,' '  says  Daniel,  "  as  to  their  points  of  faith.' '  When  Daniel  was  twenty- 
seven  years  old  he  became  an  Episcopalian,  at  thirty  an  Episcopal  clergyman 
and  at  sixty-two  a  Roman  Catholic.  This  was  in  1818,  when  he  publicly 
announced  his  change  and  left  his  church  in  Claremont.  There  seems  to  be 
some  discrepancy  in  the  several  biographical  statements  as  to  whether  the 
father  or  son  first  entered  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  The  probability  is 
that  the  father  started  first,  but  the  son  outstripped  him  hi  the  race.  It  is  a 
sad  story  throughout,  such  a  spirit  of  self-sacrifice  and  such  a  lack  of  sense. 
When  Virgil  H.  Barber  made  up  his  mind  to  become  a  Roman  Catholic  priest 
he  was  thirty-four  years  old  and  his  wife  twenty-eight,  and  they  had  five 
children  and  no  means  of  support.  The  mother  and  children  were  placed  in 
a  convent,  and  the  father  went  to  Rome  to  study.  All  became  prominent  in 

31 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

the  church  of  their  choice.  Mrs.  Barber  was  known  "in  religion"  as  Sister 
Mary  Augustine  (or  as  it  was  frequently  written,  Austin).  She  died  at  George- 
town, D.  C.,  January  1,  1860.  Their  son,  Samuel  Joseph,  became  a  priest  of 
the  order  of  Jesuits,  and  died  in  Charles  county,  Md.,  February  23,  1864.  The 
youngest  and  last  surviving  member  of  the  family,  Sister  Mary  Josephine, 
died  at  the  Convent  of  the  Visitation  in  St.  Louis  (about  1892  or  3.)  The  fol- 
lowing sketch  is  taken  from  a  St.  Louis  paper: 

THE   FIRST   NOVICE. 

DEATH    OP   AN    HISTORICAL   BISTER   AT  THE   VISITATION. 

Sister  Mary  Josephine  Barber  died  at  the  Visitation  Convent  on  Cass  avenue  on  Wednes- 
day night  at  11  o'clock.  She  had  been  a  sufferer  from  cancer  for  two  years.  Her  name  is 
famous  in  the  annals  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  America,  and  she  herself  had  been,  for  over 
a  half  century,  a  member  of  the  order.  Her  grandfather.  Rev.  Daniel  Barber,  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  was  a  minister  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  but  became  a  convert  to  Catholicity. 
In  1807  be  baptised  Fanny  Allen,  daughter  of  Gen.  Ethan  Allen,  who  is  known  in  Catholic 
history  as  "the  first  American  nun."  Her  father,  Rev.  Virgil  Horace  Barber,  was  also  an 
Episcopalian  minister,  and  he  too  was  converted  to  Catholicity.  He  became  a  Jesuit,  and 
his  wife,  Jerusha  Barber,  became  a  Visitandine  nun,  under  the  name  of  Sister  Mary  Augus- 
tine. Besides  his  son,  Samuel  Barber,  joined  the  Jesuit  order.  Four  daughters  became 
Ursuline  nuns.  They  died  in  Canadian  convents.  Sister  Mary  Josephine,  the  Visitandine. 
was  the  last  survivor  of  this  religious  family. 

She  was  born  in  1817,  and  was  educated  at  the  convent  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  where 
her  mother  was  a  nun.  In  1833  a  colony  of  eight  sisters  was  sent  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  to 
found  a  convent,  and  she,  then  Miss  Barber,  accompanied  them.  They  arrived  at  Kaskas- 
kia on  May  31,  and  she  entered  the  novitiate  in  the  summer  of  that  year.  She  was  professed 
by  Bishop  Rosati.  In  1836  her  mother  was  sent  to  the  house,  and  remained  there  till  the 
spring  of  1844.  The  high  water  of  that  year  compelled  the  removal  of  the  convent  to  St. 
Louis,  and  mother  and  daughter  were  in  the  immigrating  party.  They  continued  to  enjoy 
each  other's  company  until  1848,  when  Sister  Mary  Augustine  was  sent  to  Mobile.  She 
died  in  1860. 

Except  a  little  while  that  she  spent  beside  the  death-bed  of  her  mother.  Sister  Mary 
Josephine  was  employed  since  1844  as  a  teacher  at  the  St.  Louis  Convent.  She  excelled 
especially  in  poetry,  music  and  painting.  She  had  some  of  the  most  distinguished  ladies 
in  the  country  as  pupils,  among  them  Mrs.  Hancock,  wife  of  the  late  Gen.  Hancock.  She 
was  of  a  most  amiable  disposition,  very  modest  in  speaking  of  herself.  Two  years  ago  she 
was  induced  to  write  a  history  of  her  family  for  the  "Catholic  Memoirs  of  Vermont  and 
New  Hampshire,"  but  tells  little  of  herself.  Some  of  the  passages,  however,  are  most 
affecting,  as,  for  instance,  her  description  of  being  taken  to  the  Georgetown  Convent  when 
2  years  old  and  refusing  to  go  to  her  mother,  as  she  did  not  recognize  her.  She  states 
that  the  five  children  were  present  when  father  and  mother  made  their  vows  in  the  George- 
town Convent  Chapel,  she  as  a  Visitation  nun,  he  as  a  Jesuit.  When  she  was  15  years  old 
she  made  her  confession  to  her  father,  and  afterwards,  she  says,  "I  went  back  to  the  parlor, 
and  my  father,  who  seemed  more  delighted  than  I  was  myself,  took  me  up  under  the  arms 
and  jumped  me  several  times  half  way  to  the  ceiling,  exclaiming  'My  baby!  my  baby! ' " 

Besides  the  "  History  of  My  Own  Times' '  Daniel  Barber  wrote  '  'Catholic 
Worship  and  Piety  explained  and  recommended  to  a  very  near  Friend  and 
Others," — a  pamphlet,  Washington,  1821.  See  also  "Catholic  Memoirs  of 
Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,"  by  Bishop  Goesbriand,  Burlington,  Vt.,  1886, 
and  Griffin's  Journal,  Philadelphia,  June  1,  1894. 

32 


THE  PARISH  OF  ST.  JAMES  AND  OF  ST.  JOHN. 

In  September,  1814,  the  Rev.  Alpheus  Geer  was  invited  to 
become  rector,  at  a  salary  of  $600.  "provided  Gunntown  will  pay 
one-third  for  his  services  one-third  of  the  time."  Gunntown  it 
will  be  understood  was  the  Episcopal  church  in  the  second  (Salem) 
Society,  now  Naugatuck,  the  church  there  being  in  the  Gunn- 
town district.  The  vote  as  finally  passed  was  to  pay  him  $400 
for  two-thirds  of  his  time,  leaving  Mr.  Geer  and  Gunntown  to 
settle  for  the  remainder. 

Alpheus  Geer  was  born  at  Kent,  August  7,  1788,  graduated  at  Union  col- 
lege in  1813,  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Hobart  in  New  York  city,  June 
12,  1814,  and  priest  by  Bishop  Griswold  at  Middletown,  early  in  1815. 
He  remained  in  Waterbury  nearly  sixteen  years  from  the  fall  of  1814  to  the 
spring  of  1830.  He  went  from  here  to  Hebron,  where  he  remained  about 
fourteen  years,  and  afterwards  preached  at  East  Haddam,  North  Guilford, 
Bakerville  and  Harwinton.  He  died  at  Norwich,  February  3,  1866.  While 
here  he  lived  first  on  South  Main  street,  and  later  in  the  Judge  Hopkins  place, 
on  West  Main  street.  His  wife  was  Miss  Sarah  W.  Marshall  of  Torrington, 
married  November  29,  1815.  She  died  September  11,  1886.  The  period  of 
Mr.  Geer's  pastorate  was  one  of  quiet  and  moderate  prosperity.  There  was 
not  at  that  time  much  growth  in  the  town,  and  as  a  semi-fanner  clergyman, 
who  was  expected  to  live  to  some  extent  off  the  product  of  his  glebe,  he  was  a 
very  fair  representative  of  the  country  clergy  of  his  time.  On  Sunday,  Octo- 
ber 20,  1816,  he  presented  to  Bishop  Hobart  of  New  York,  then  acting  as 
bishop  in  this  diocese,  which  was  temporarily  without  a  bishop,  a  class  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-six  for  confirmation,  being  the  largest  class  ever  con- 
firmed by  Bishop  Hobart.  The  manuscript  from  which  the  information  in 
this  sketch  was  in  part  obtained,  adds:  "It  is  thought  the  largest  ever  pre- 
sented to  any  bishop  in  this  country."  The  writer  was  not  aware  of  the 
class  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  confirmed  by  Bishop  Seabury  in  the  same 
place  thirty  years  before,  but  these  two  classes,  both  of  them  in  this  parish, 
have  seldom  been  exceeded  in  numbers.  Mr.  Geer's  second  son,  the  Rev. 
George  Jarvis  Geer,  D.  D.  (Trinity,  1842),  was  for  many  years  a  successful 
clergyman  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  his  grandson,  the  Rev.  William 
Montague  Geer,  is  one  of  the  assistant  ministers  of  Trinity  parish  in  that  city. 

On  July  19,  1830,  the  Rev.  William  Barlow  was  invited  to 
become  rector.  He  remained  here  about  two  years  and  a  half. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  parish  in  October,  1832,  it  was  voted  to  give 
him  a  leave  of  absence  during  the  winter  (he  being  obliged  to  go 
south  on  account  of  his  wife's  health),  and  this  seems  virtually 
to  have  closed  his  connection  with  the  parish.  He  was  a  man  of 

33 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

dignified  manner  and  refined  and  rather  scholarly  tastes.  While 
here  he  took  an  active  interest  in  schools  and  in  a  public  library. 
The  library  continued  to  exist  in  a  feeble  way  for  many  years 
after  he  left.  Some  of  the  books  went  into  the  Young  Men's 
Institute  and  finally  into  the  Bronson  library.  One  of  Mr.  Bar- 
low's contemporaries  speaks  of  him  as  a  "smart  but  erratic  man." 
He  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Hobart,  December  28,  1819, 
and  died  in  Chicago  February  24,  1850.  He  occupied  while  here 
the  house  on  Grand  street  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Bronson  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barber.* 

From  Dr.  James  H.  Canfield,  librarian  of  Columbia  University, 
I  get  the  following: 

Rev.  William  Barlow. 

1819.  Ordained  deacon,  Dec.  28,  by  Bishop  Hobart. 
1819-21.    At  St.  John's  Church,  Canandaigua,  N.  Y. 

1820.  Ordained  priest,  October  22  or  29,  by  Bishop  Hobart. 
1824-26.     At  Claremont  Church,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

1829.  Agent  and  Corr.  Sec.  of  Church  Scholarship  Society,  Hart- 
ford, Conn. 

1830-32.  At  St.  John's  Church,  Waterbury,  Conn. 

1834-35.  At  St.  Matthew's  Church,  Wilton,  Conn. 

1836-40.  At  St.  John's  Church,  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y. 

1840-42.  Address  given  at  Flatbush,  N.  Y. 

1842.  Instructor  in  St.  Thomas'  Hall,  Flushing. 

1834-47.  Address  given  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y. 

1848-50.  At  Trinity  Church,  Chicago,  HI. 

He  is  also  mentioned  as  having  been  at  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  before  he  was  at  Ogdensburg. 

He  was  author  of  several  printed  letters  and  pamphlets  which 
are  preserved  in  the  library  of  Columbia  University. 

^Somewhere  about  1830,  I  have  not  the  precise  date,  the  church  was  struck  by  a  very 
heavy  bolt  of  lightning,  which  broke  a  large  part  of  the  glass  in  the  windows;  and  the 
lightning  rod,  which  was  of  iron  and  nearly  an  inch  in  diameter,  was  rendered  so  brittle 
that  it  was  readily  broken  by  the  hands. 


34 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  NEW  ERA. 

1HAVE  called  the  preceding  chapter  the  transitional  period. 
Mr.  Geer  was  the  last  of  the  Waterbury  clergymen  who 

joined  the  care  of  some  other  parish  to  his  ministerial  work 
here.  This  is  also  approximately  the  epoch  which  marks  the  trans- 
ition in  Connecticut  from  an  agricultural  condition  to  one  in  which 
manufactures  became  the  dominant  interest,  and  Mr.  Geer  was  the 
last  minister  of  St.  John's  parish  who  depended  on  the  cultivation 
of  land  for  a  portion  of  his  income.  The  cultivation  of  the  glebe 
land  and  of  their  own  land  by  the  early  New  England  clergy 
afforded  an  important  part  of  their  support.  A  settlement  was 
regarded  as  for  life,  and  a  grant  of  land  was  usually  part  of  the 
settlement.  In  many  cases  the  clergy  were  considerable  land- 
holders and  successful  cultivators.  This  condition  of  things 
continued  in  some  towns  to  a  later  date,  and  possibly  there  are 
lingering  cases  still,  but  the  year  1830  is  as  near  the  turning  point 
as  any  that  could  be  selected.* 

On  February  20,  1833,  it  was  voted  to  alter  and  repair  the 
church.  This  was  accomplished  some  time  afterward,  and  the 
changes  consisted  principally  in  taking  out  the  square  pews  and 
substituting  those  of  the  present  style,  then  known  as  "slips." 
By  this  the  seating  capacity  of  the  church  was  considerably  in- 
creased. 

On  April  8,  1833,  it  was  voted  to  make  a  contract  with  the 
Rev.  Allen  C.  Morgan,  either  party  to  be  at  liberty  to  terminate 
the  engagement  on  giving  six  months'  notice.  Mr.  Morgan  began 


*If  the  people  of  to-day  can  imagine  the  rector  of  St.  John's  in  "shirt  sleeves,"  working 
in  a  mild  spring  rain  to  turn  the  water  through  sluices  into  his  grass  land  (as  I  have  seen 
Mr.  Geer  doing),  or  can  imagine  the  pastor  of  the  First  church  with  a  very  broad  brimmed 
straw  hat  and  a  calico  dressing  gown,  carrying  a  rake  across  his  shoulder  and  following  a 
load  of  hay  from  the  "little  pasture"  through  the  main  street  of  the  town  (as  I  have  seen 
Mr.  Arnold  doing) ,  it  will  help  them  to  understand  some  of  the  changes  which  seventy-five 
years  have  brought  about,  both  in  the  sources  of  income  and  in  the  customs  of  life. 

35 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

his  service  here  as  a  deacon  about  the  time  that  Mr.  Barlow  left, 
and  was  ordained  a  priest  January  17,  1833.  He  remained  here 
until  the  fall  of  1836,  and  left  to  take  charge  of  the  Cheshire 
academy.  After  a  brief  but  very  successful  career  as  a  teacher 
he  died  suddenly  in  New  York  City,  October  12,  1838.  During 
the  short  period  of  his  ministry  here  he  had  become  so  much 
attached  to  the  place  and  people  that  he  wished  to  regard  it  as 
his  home.  He  was  buried  here,  and  his  old  parishioners  erected 
a  monument  to  his  memory  in  the  Grand  Street  Cemetery,  which 
was  afterward  removed  to  Riverside. 

Allen  C.  Morgan  was  born  at  Norwich,  January  7,  1802.  His  father 
removed  soon  after  to  Greenfield,  Mass.  Being  desirous  of  obtaining  a  classi- 
cal education,  and  dependent  on  his  own  exertions,  he  early  engaged  in  teach- 
ing. While  thus  occupied,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wheaton,  then  Rector  of  Christ 
Church,  Hartford,  offered  to  assist  him  in  his  education.  The  offer  was 
accepted,  and  he  graduated  with  distinction  at  Yale  college  in  1826.  He 
taught  for  a  while  at  Norwalk,  and  then  at  Ulster,  N.  Y.,  until  the  autumn 
of  1831,  when  he  returned  to  Hartford  and  was  ordained  deacon,  November 
27.  He  officiated  for  a  few  months  at  Plymouth  and  Bristol,  and  then  came 
here.  He  was  a  man  of  dignified  appeareance,  rather  stout  for  his  years  and 
slow  in  his  motions,  but  of  an  active  mind  and  finished  scholarship.  He  was 
a  faithful  pastor  and  a  sympathetic  friend.  He  never  married. 

It  was  during  Mr.  Morgan's  rectorship,  December  10,  1835, 
that  a  committee  was  appointed  to  purchase  an  organ  and  make 
the  necessary  alterations  in  the  galleries  for  its  reception.  This 
was  the  first  church  organ  in  Waterbury,  and  it  was  for  many 
years  the  only  one.  The  organist  was  St.  John  Rowley,  an 
Englishman  employed  in  Beecher's  woollen  mill. 

On  January  28,  1837,  it  was  voted  that  the  society's  committee 
be  authorized  to  correspond  with  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Clark  on  the  sub- 
ject of  becoming  rector,  and  to  offer  him  $750  a  year.  He  ac- 
cepted the  offer,  and  on  the  second  Sunday  after  Easter  began 
his  long  service  here. 

Jacob  Lyman  Clark  was  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Susannah  (Bangs)  Clark, 
and  was  born  at  Westhampton,  Mass.,  September  19,  1807.  Previous  to  his 
fifteenth  year  he  lived  for  some  time  with  a  married  sister,  Mrs.  Harriet  King, 
working  with  her  husband  on  his  farm.  In  1822  he  went  to  Cambridge  to 
study  with  his  brother,  Orange  Clark,  afterward  the  Rev.  Orange  Clark,  D.  D., 
who  after  many  years  of  service  in  this  vicinity  spent  the  closing  years  of  his 

36 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

life  in  California,  but  who  was  at  this  time  a  student  in  Harvard  college.  He 
remained  in  Cambridge  about  two  years,  when  he  went  with  his  brother  to 
assist  him  in  a  school  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  teaching  also,  during  a  portion  of 
the  time,  the  children  of  the  officers  at  the  navy  yard  at  Kittery.  He  also 
taught  a  public  school  at  Beverly,  Mass.,  somewhere  about  this  time,  having 
sailors  and  sailor  boys  for  pupils.  He  entered  Trinity  (then  Washington) 
college  in  1827,  and  graduated  in  1831.  His  father  was  a  farmer  of  moderate 
means  and  the  sons  were  mainly  dependent  on  their  own  exertions  for  such 
educational  advantages  as  they  obtained,  a  statement  which  would  probably 
be  true  of  nine-tenths  of  the  New  England  boys  of  that  period  who  rose  to 
distinction.  While  at  college  he  taught  in  the  family  of  William  H.  Imlay, 
and  in  the  long  vacations  visited  his  brother,  then  in  orders,  at  Delhi,  and  at 
Rochester,  N,  Y.,  and  while  at  the  former  place  he  read  the  service  in  the  neigh- 
boring villages.  He  seems  not  to  have  had  the  ministry  in  view  at  first,  as  he 
became  a  communicant  of  the  church  while  at  college,  and  it  has  been  said 
that  until  after  he  was  twenty  years  old  he  had  never  seen  the  inside  of  an 
Episcopal  church.* 

He  studied  three  years  at  the  General  Theological  seminary  in  New  York, 
and  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Brownell,  at  St.  Mark's,  New  Canaan, 
June  29,  1835.  He  supplied  that  parish  and  Ridgefield  until  he  came  to 
Waterbury,  the  second  Sunday  after  Easter,  1837.  Here  he  labored  with 
great  success  for  almost  forty  years,  until  his  death,  January  26,  1877. 

During  this  long  period  the  history  of  his  life  is  substantially 
the  history  of  the  parish.  His  success  here,  however,  was  so 
marked,  his  power  of  administration  so  evident  and  the  con- 
tributions of  the  parish  under  his  guidance  so  liberal  to  the  general 
work  of  the  church  that  it  could  not  fail  to  attract  attention,  and 
few  parishes  in  the  country  were  better  known  or  more  highly 
esteemed  than  St.  John's,  Waterbury,  and  few  clergymen  better 
known  or  more  highly  esteemed  than  its  rector.  The  mission- 
aries and  the  missionary  bishops  found  in  him  an  unfailing  friend. 
In  1854,  feeling  somewhat  overworked,  he  sent  in  his  resignation, 
but  the  parish  declined  to  receive  it  and  proposed  to  give  him  six 
months'  leave  of  absence.  He  decided  to  take  this  and  by  way 
of  light  recreation  did  six  months'  canvassing  for  the  Board  of 
Missions.  This  seemed  to  be  just  what  he  needed,  and  he  came 
back  to  his  work  greatly  refreshed.  The  society  for  the  Increase 
of  the  Ministry  might  be  said  to  be  of  his  creation,  and  for  one 

*This  may  not  be  strictly  correct,  but  there  was  no  such  church  in  his  native  town 
and  the  family  were  staunch  Congregationalists. 

37 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

year  (1859)  he  gave  up  a  large  part  of  his  parochial  work  to  act 
as  its  agent. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conventions  of  1850,  1862, 
1865,  1868  and  1874,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  General 
Board  of  Missions.  At  the  General  Convention  of  1856  he  was 
nominated  by  the  House  of  Bishops  to  the  Episcopate  of  Nebraska 
and  Kansas,  but  the  lower  house  did  not  think  the  time  had 
come  to  establish  that  jurisdiction.  In  1859  the  convention 
elected  him  Bishop  of  Kansas  and  the  Northwest,  but  he  declined, 
feeling  doubtless  that  he  was  more  in  the  line  of  his  special  work 
in  his  own  parish.  The  reason  he  usually  gave  when  asked,  was 
that  he  was  not  sufficiently  learned  to  be  a  bishop.  He  was 
doubtless  quite  sincere,  too,  in  this  estimate  of  himself.  He  was 
not  a  scholar.  He  never  gave  himself  the  slightest  trouble  about 
vexed  questions  of  theology  or  metaphysics.  He  was  a  Christian 
worker,  a  servant  of  Christ  and  his  church.  It  was  for  that 
church  to  point  out  the  way,  and  for  him  to  follow  in  it.  Never- 
theless in  all  practical  questions,  intimately  related  as  they  fre- 
quently were  to  matters  of  theological  doctrine,  his  shrewd  com- 
mon sense  and  sound  business  judgment  made  him  a  leader  and 
a  guide.  In  1848  he  became  a  member  of  the  standing  committee 
of  the  diocese  of  Connecticut,  and  was  annually  re-elected  for  the 
next  twenty-three  years,  after  which  he  declined  a  re-election. 
In  the  Diocesan  Convention  he  was  "a  leading  member  and  con- 
tinually served  on  many  important  committees,  but  he  never 
spent  his  own  time  or  that  of  the  convention  in  discussions  about 
anything  except  the  most  practical  questions,  and  then  in  the  most 
practical  way.  He  received  the  degree  of  D.D.  from  his  Alma 
Mater  in  1853,  and  in  1862  was  made  a  member  of  the  college 
corporation,  which  place  he  retained  until  his  death. 

His  life  had  few  salient  points  for  biographical  purposes.  He 
will  be  remembered  in  the  church,  outside  of  his  parish  by  his 
earnest  labor  in  missionary  work  and  his  singlehearted  zeal  for 
all  that  was  good. 

Dr.  Clark  had  not  in  any  great  degree  what  is  usually  called  a 
knowledge  of  men  but  he  had  a  wonderful  knowledge  of  the  indi- 
viduals composing  his  own  parish.  He  knew  every  man,  woman 

38 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

and  child.  He  never  met  one  of  them  on  the  street  without 
recognition.  He  seldom  entered  a  house  without  inquiring  for 
every  member  of  the  family,  from  the  eldest  to  the  youngest. 
He  knew  all  the  intricate  relationships  of  the  various  families, 
their  descents  and  intermarriages.  He  knew  enough  of  their 
affairs  to  know  their  ability  to  assist  him  in  his  parish  work.  He 
knew  when  to  ask  for  money,  and  also  how,  and  for  how  much; 
for  he  was  apt  to  be  very  definite  in  those  matters.  There  were 
men  in  his  parish  who  did  not  take  much  interest  in  church  or 
charitable  work,  from  whom  nevertheless,  he  could  get  sums  of 
from  one  dollar  to  ten  dollars  whenever  he  saw  fit  to  ask.  He 
was  seldom,  perhaps  never,  refused.  He  had  completely  sub- 
jugated himself  to  his  work.  Always  and  everywhere  he  was  the 
clergyman,  and  the  black  cane  which  he  carried  seemed  an  official 
staff.  When  he  came  to  Waterbury  he  was  thirty  years  old. 
Tall,  erect,  of  spare  figure,  his  resolute,  straight-forward  walk 
was  altogether  characteristic  of  the  man;  one  saw  at  once  that  he 
was  going  to  a  specific  place  for  a  specific  purpose,  and  felt  pretty 
sure  that,  whatever  it  was,  he  would  carry  it  out.  You  would 
not  say  of  him,  as  of  some  men,  that  he  forgot  himself,  but  rather 
that  he  never  thought  of  himself.  He  was  the  man  to  lead  a 
forlorn  hope,  or,  with  equal  readiness,  to  follow  another  man  if 
it  seemed  his  business  to  follow  rather  than  to  lead.  He  was  by 
nature  and  by  early  training  a  Puritan,  but  not  in  theory  an 
ascetic.  He  was  fond  of  social  intercourse,  intensely  enjoying 
the  companionship  and  conversation  of  his  brethren  in  the  minis- 
try. He  had,  too,  a  good  sense  of  humor,  but  it  was  strictly  of 
the  clerical  kind.  His  manner  was  cheerful  and  genial  and  the 
tones  of  his  voice  hearty  and  inspiring,  though  upon  occasion  he 
could  be  very  stern. 

He  never  attempted  eloquence  or  strove  for  well-turned  sen- 
tences, but  there  were  times  when  the  importance  of  the  theme 
and  his  own  intense  earnestness  gave  his  utterances  much  power, 
and  in  presenting  the  importance  and  the  needs  of  Christian 
enterprises  he  had  a  business-like  directness  which  seldom  failed 
to  produce  substantial  results.  He  had  an  indomitable  will. 
All  that  persistence  and  perseverance  to  the  verge  of  obstinacy 

39 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

could  accomplish  he  would  do.  He  had  not  great  talent  for 
organizing.  He  did  not  lay  out  or  discuss  his  plans  beforehand 
to  any  great  extent,  or  work  on  methods  and  with  subordinates. 
When  anything  was  to  be  done  he  called  on  all  to  help;  then, 
while  he  supervised  the  labor,  he  put  his  own  shoulder  to  the 
wheel,  quietly  filled  the  gaps,  and  the  result  was  success. 

He  was  not  a  student.  He  read  few  books  and  few  newspapers. 
What  was  happening  in  the  diocese  and  in  the  church  at  large,  so 
far  as  it  affected  him  as  a  clergyman,  or  his  work,  or  the  welfare 
of  the  church,  he  generally  contrived  to  find  out,  and  those  who 
came  in  contact  with  him  knew  very  well  that  he  had  his  opinions 
and  maintained  them  against  all  comers;  but  he  had  no  time  to 
waste  on  speculative  questions.  Probably  he  never  read  a  novel 
or  a  work  of  speculative  thought,  or  a  philosophical  history  or  a 
book  of  poetry  except  the  Hymn  Book.  He  knew  nothing  about 
modern  science  and  whenever  he  had  occasion  to  allude  to  it  in 
his  sermons  he  always  spoke  of  it  as  "science  falsely  so  called," 
which  covered  the  whole  ground  with  him.  With  the  sick  and 
the  poor  his  presence  was  ubiquitous,  his  patience  unwearied,  his 
labors  unceasing,  his  charity  unfailing.  Fuel,  food,  medicine, 
clothes,  money  for  rent,  to  see  that  no  one  should  lack  these  was 
his  daily  and  nightly  business.  His  life  in  the  parish  might  be 
summed  up  in  that  royal  sentence,  "He  went  about  doing  good." 

He  spoke  no  evil  of  any  man  to  his  fellow  men,  but  with  the 
wrong-doer  himself  he  never  held  back  or  hesitated  when  he 
thought  good  could  be  done.  Crossing  the  Green  one  day,  he 
met  a  workman  whom  he  knew,  partially  intoxicated.  He  told 
the  man  he  was  sorry  to  see  him  in  that  state  and  pointed  out  to 
him  the  injury  he  was  inflicting  on  himself;  among  other  things 
he  warned  him  that  he  was  destroying  his  strength  and  power 
to  labor  for  his  family.  This  touched  the  man's  pride,  and  he 
replied,  "  I  can  whip  you,  Dr.  Clark,  and  if  you  will  step  back  on 
the  Green  I  will  do  it."  "No,"  said  Dr.  Clark;  "when  you  are 
sober  you  are  a  much  stronger  man  than  I  am,  but  if  you  go  on 
drinking,  or  even  now,  if  you  had  a  glass  or  two  more,  I  shouldn't 
be  afraid  of  you."  This  argument  seemed  to  reach  him,  and  the 
result  was  that  he  went  directly  with  the  clergyman  to  the 

40 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

secretary  of  the  local  temperance  society,  and  there  signed  the 
pledge. 

It  is  probably  safe  to  say  that  no  man  in  this  town  was  so  well 
known  or  so  universally  esteemed.  Although  St.  John's  was  only 
one  of  eight  or  ten  churches  in  the  town,  yet,  on  the  afternoon  of 
his  funeral,  business  was  suspended  as  by  common  consent,  and 
the  whole  population  poured  forth  to  do  honor  to  his  memory. 
It  was  such  a  spontaneous  tribute  to  a  life  of  goodness  as  gives 
one  renewed  confidence  in  his  fellow  men. 

Dr.  Clark  was  a  man  of  warm  domestic  attachments,  to  whom 
a  home  meant  much.  Although  thrice  married  during  his  pas- 
torate, he  lived  a  widower  for  more  than  twenty-seven  years. 
On  April  28,  1839,  he  married  Mary  Thankful,  youngest  daughter 
of  James  Scovill,  Esq.,  and  granddaughter  of  the  Rev.  James 
Scovil.  She  died  May  2,  1842.  On  September  12,  1847,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  DeForest,  daughter  of  Gad  Taylor  of  New  York.  She 
died  July  13,  1848,  and  on  November  16,  1870,  he  married  Anna 
Galpin,  daughter  of  William  R.  Hitchcock,  long  an  officer  of  St. 
John's  parish.  She  survives  him.  He  left  but  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter of  his  first  wife,  now  Mrs.  Ambrose  I.  Upson.  During  the 
long  years  of  his  widowerhood  his  house  and  home  were  under  the 
care  of  his  maiden  sister,  Miss  Samantha  Clark,  who  came  to  him 
after  the  death  of  his  second  wife  and  devoted  the  remainder  of 
her  life  to  the  care  of  her  brother.  She  died  at  Westhampton, 
her  old  home  in  May,  1886.  In  1849,  the  parsonage  on  Leaven- 
worth  Street  was  bought  for  Dr.  Clark  and  he  lived  there  until 
his  death,  January  26,  1877. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry,  held  in  the  church 
January  27th,  1877,  it  was  reported  that  the  funeral  services  of  the  late 
Rector,  Rev.  Jacob  Lyman  Clark,  D.  D.,  were  appointed  to  take  place  in  the 
church  Monday,  Jan.  29th,  1877,  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  at  which  time  it  was 
expected  that  the  Bishop  would  be  present  and  preach  a  memorial  discourse. 
The  following  named  clergy  having  been  selected  by  the  family  acted  as  pall 
bearers. 

Rev.  A.  T.  Twing,  Rev.  S.  D.  Dennison,  D.  D.,  Rev,  E.  E.  Beardsley,  D.  D., 
Rev.  N.  S.  Richardson,  D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  E.  Vibbert,  Rev.  J.  L.  Bennett,  D.  D.f 
Rev.  F.  J.  Hawley,  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  L.  Scott;  and  the  following  members  of  the 
parish.,  Messrs.  S.  M.  Buckingham,  I.  E.  Newton,  F.  J.  Kingsbury,  H.  V. 
Welton,  G.  B.  Merriman  and  E.  A.  Pierpont. 

41 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

By  consent  of  the  family  it  was  decided  that  the  Wardens  and  Vestry 
should  convey  the  remains  of  the  deceased  to  the  chancel  Monday  noon, 
there  to  be  viewed  by  all  those  who  might  wish  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
privilege. 

The  following  named  proposals  relating  to  the  preparations  for  the  funeral 
were  suggested  and  adopted. 

First.     That  N.  Dikeman  have  charge  of  draping  the  chancel. 
Second.     That  N.  J.  Welton  engage  carriages  and  select  ushers  to  aid  at  the 

church. 
Third.    That  C.  B.  Merriman  provide  a  lunch  at  the  Scovill  House  for  the 

clergy. 
Fourth.     That  Henry  Merriman  assist  at  the  house  during  the  day. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Bingham  reported  having  issued  postal  cards  to  the  clergy 
of  the  Diocese  and  others  announcing  the  time  of  the  funeral. 

Adjourned  to  Sunday  evening  Jan.  28,  1877. 

A  true  copy  of  the  minutes. 
Attest    J.    W.    Smith,    Clerk. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  John's,  Waterbury, 
the  following  resolutions  were  adopted: 

Jan.    29,    1877. 

Whereas:  It  has  pleased  Our  Heavenly  Father  in  the  exercise  of  that 
infinite  wisdom  which  doeth  all  things  well  to  take  from  a  life  of  toil  and  trial 
to  a  Heaven  of  peace  and  rest  His  faithful  servant  the  Reverend  Jacob  Lyman 
Clark,  D.  D.,  for  almost  forty  years  the  revered  and  beloved  rector  of  this 
parish. 

Resolved :  That  while  we  deeply  mourn  the  loss,  the  greatness  of  which 
we  are  yet  in  the  first  moments  unable  to  measure,  we  desire  humbly  to  express 
our  devout  gratitude  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  that  we  have  been  so 
long  permitted  to  enjoy  the  ministrations  and  to  profit  by  the  labors  and  the 
example  of  this  eminent  mnister  of  Christ,  whose  record  like  that  of  his  'Mas- 
ter' is  that  he  went  about  doing  good. 

That  while  the  obligations  which  we  owe  to  him  cannot  be  set  forth  in  a 
few  brief  phrases,  we  nevertheless  desire  to  place  upon  record  our  grateful 
acknowledgments  that  under  God  this  parish  is  what  it  is  through  his  manifold 
labors. 

That  he  has  spared  himself  no  labor  for  our  sakes,  but  that  summer's 
heat  and  winter's  cold  have  been  to  him  as  naught  when  duty  called. 

That  in  times  of  adversity  he  has  not  looked  back  nor  faltered,  nor  in 
our  days  of  prosperity  has  he  suffered  us  to  be  led  into  vanity,  but  by  patient 
continuance  in  all  well  doing  he  ever  sought  for  glory  and  immortality, 
eternal  life. 

42 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

That  his  life  has  been  an  open  book  known  and  read  of  all  men,  for  good. 

That  his  name  has  been  in  all  the  churches  a  synonym  of  all  that  is  faithful 
in  labor,  wise  in  counsel,  just,  true,  that  maketh  for  peace  and  righteousness 
and  is  of  good  report. 

That  his  ear  was  ever  open  to  the  cry  of  the  oppressed  and  his  hand  was 
swift  to  minister  to  the  needy;  from  no  man  was  his  face  turned.  He  ever 
distributed  to  the  necessities  of  the  saints  and  was  given  to  hospitality.  He 
was  the  guide  and  friend  of  youth,  the  counsellor  and  comforter  of  age.  He 
has  fought  a  good  fight;  he  has  finished  his  course;  he  has  kept  the  faith. 

How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  preach  the  gospel  of  peace  and 
bring  glad  tidings  of  good  things  unto  men. 

Resolved:  That  we  shall  most  honor  his  memory  by  heeding  his  counsels 
and  faithfully  striving  to  follow  his  example. 

Resolved:  that  we  tender  to  his  bereaved  family  such  consolation  as  our 
sincere  sympathy  in  their  affliction  may  afford. 

Resolved:  That  these  resolutions  be  entered  on  our  records  and  that 
copies  be  furnished  for  publication  in  the  Church  Journal,  The  Churchman 
and  the  newspapers  of  this  city. 

Attest, 

E.  D.  Steele. 

Clerk  pro  tern. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  John's  Parish  held  in  the 
church  Sunday,  Feb.  4th,  1877,  it  was 

Voted :  That  the  salary  and  house  rent  of  the  late  Dr.  Clark  be  continued 
to  his  family  until  Easter,  1877. 

Voted:  That  a  committee  of  four  do  procure  such  historical  sketches  as 
they  may  be  able  to  obtain,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Bingham, 
D.  D.,  that  it  may  be  compiled  in  pamphlet  form  together  wth  the  Bishop's 
memorial  discourse  and  other  matters  of  interest  to  the  parish,  this  com- 
mittee having  power  to  publish  the  same. 
The  following  named  were  appointed: 

REV.  J.  F.  BINOHAM,  D.  D.  F.  J.  KINGSBURY 

REV.  MR.  RUSSELL  N.  DIKEMAN. 

Voted:  That  Rev.  Doctor  Bingham  and  S.  M.  Buckingham  procure 
assistance  for  Doctor  Bingham  until  Easter,  1877,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  $100. 

Adjourned. 

A  true  copy  of  the  minutes. 
Attest,        J.  W.  SMITH,  Clerk. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  parish  held  April  14,  1884,  the  committee  to  provide 
a  suitable  memorial  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Clark,  appointed  Easter  Monday, 

43 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

April  2,  1877,  reported  that  soon  after  their  appointment  they  caused  a  granite 
monument  with  a  suitable  inscription  thereon  to  be  placed  at  the  grave  of  Dr. 
Clark  in  the  Riverside  Cemetery  at  a  cost  of  $550,  which  was  defrayed  by 
subscriptions  of  the  late  parishioners  of  Dr.  Clark  now  belonging  to  the  parishes 
of  St.  John's  and  Trinity;  that  on  the  12th  of  the  present  month  a  tablet  of 
brass  mounted  on  marble  and  placed  in  the  nave  on  the  south  (since  changed 
to  north)  side  of  the  chancel  arch  was  unveiled  with  appropriate  services. 
The  cost  of  the  tablet  was  $325,  which  was  defrayed  by  subscriptions  from  the 
Sunday  School  and  members  of  St.  John's  Parish. 

Soon  after  Dr.  Clark  came  to  the  parish,  signs  of  growth  began 
to  appear,  owing  doubtless  in  part  to  the  increase  of  population, 
but  also,  in  part  to  his  energetic  methods.  On  May  19,  1838,  it 
was  voted  to  finish  off  the  gallery  of  the  church  into  slips.  On 
January  12,  1839,  it  was  voted  to  make  an  addition  on  each  side 
of  the  church,  provided  the  money  could  be  raised  by  subscription. 
The  addition  was  made,  consisting  of  a  wing,  one  story  high,  and 
about  twelve  feet  wide,  on  each  side,  giving  two  additional  rows 
of  pews,  and  two  aisles,  the  entire  length  of  the  church.  The 
front  of  the  church  was  also  built  out  on  a  line  with  the  front  of 
the  steeple.  The  appearance  of  the  edifice,  with  these  wings,  was 
not  architecturally  elegant,  and  they  were  spoken  of  as  "cow- 
sheds" and  "bowling-alleys"  by  the  irreverent;  nevertheless,  they 
served  a  good  purpose  for  a  number  of  years. 

On  February  23,  1846,  it  was  voted  that  it  was  "expedient 
to  build  a  new  church,  if  the  funds  can  be  raised  by  subscription." 
A  building  committee  was  appointed,  but  nothing  more  appears 
on  the  record  until  March  8, 1847,  when  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  sell  the  old  building.  But  in  the  meantime  much  had  been 
done.  It  had  been  decided  that  the  new  church  be  of  stone, 
and  a  new  site  was  selected  and  purchased,  a  short  distance  from 
the  old  one  and  directly  west  of  it.  The  dimensions  of  the  whole 
edifice,  including  the  chapel,  were  154  by  76  feet,  and  the  spire 
was  186  feet  in  height.  The  interior  was  richly  finished  in  black 
walnut,  and  the  chancel  window  bore  a  colossal  figure  of  St.  John, 
with  a  book  resting  upon  his  lap  and  a  pen  in  his  hand,  with  the 
emblematic  eagle  by  his  side.  At  the  date  of  its  erection,  the 
church  was  certainly  surpassed  by  few,  if  any,  in  the  State.  It 
was  the  result  of  great  liberality  and  of  much  self-denial  on  the 

44 


ST.  JOHN'S  CHUECH,  1839. 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

part  of  the  society,  and  its  completion  was  an  occasion  of  just 
pride.  It  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Brownell,  January  12, 
1848.*  Its  cost  was  $35,060.43. 

The  old  church  was  sold  to  the  Roman  Catholic  parish  and 
removed  to  East  Main  street.  It  was  used  first  for  a  church  and 
afterwards  for  a  school  until  1888  when  it  was  taken  down  to 
make  room  for  the  block  built  by  the  parish  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception.  Its  timbers  showed  no  signs  of  decay,  and  it  might 
have  stood  for  another  century. 

On  January  18,  1857,  a  violent  snow  storm  occurred,  accom- 
panied by  a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  and  the  steeple  of  St.  John's 
church  was  blown  down,  crushing  a  portion  of  the  south  tower 
in  its  fall.  The  steeple  was  a  mass  of  broken  sticks,  but  the  bell, 
which  weighed  3800  pounds,  fell  on  them  in  such  a  way  that  it 
was  uninjured.f 

The  destruction  of  this  steeple  was  a  heavy  loss  to  the  parish. 
It  was  rebuilt  in  1859  of  wood  as  before,  but  in  a  very  solid  and 
substantial  manner,  at  a  cost  of  over  $5000. 

In  the  early  morning  of  December  24,  1868,  the  church  was 
totally  destroyed  by  fire.  The  other  religious  societies  immedi- 
ately proffered  a  partial  use  of  their  buildings,  and  the  Christmas 
services  were  held  in  the  Second  Congregational  church  and  a 
parish  meeting  in  the  Methodist  church.  Sunday  evening  ser- 
vices were  held  for  some  time  in  the  First  Congregational  church, 
and  the  Sunday  morning  service  and  the  Sunday  school  in  Mili- 
tary hall,  the  third  story  of  the  store  on  Exchange  Place  and 
Bank  Street.  Immediate  measures  were  taken  for  the  erection 


*At  the  time  that  the  site  for  the  new  church  was  purchased  it  was  a  flag  swamp, 
through  which  ran  a  brook.  In  very  high  floods  the  water  backed  up  into  this  lot  from 
the  river  by  way  of  the  "Cove."  The  tradition  is  that  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  town 
quite  a  stream  from  the  river  found  its  way  through  that  hollow  and  ran  across  the  green 
and  into  "Great  brook"  below.  The  West  District  School  house  was  nearly  opposite  this 
lot  and  the  children  picked  flag  pods  in  summer  and  skated  in  winter  on  this  swampy 
ground  with  much  satisfaction.  Just  at  the  corner  was  a  place  to  water  horses  and  wash 
wagons,  and  Esquire  Ezra  Bronson  had  at  some  time  had  tubs  set  there  for  making  lye,  and 
the  place  was  still  known  as  "  'Squire  Ezra's  potash."  Cyrus  Clark's  law  oflice  stood  about 
where  the  drive  way  is  on  the  South  side  of  the  church.  Later  this  was  moved  back  into 
the  lot  a  little  south  of  the  brook,  some  additions  were  made  to  it  and  it  was  used  at  various 
times  as  a  manufactory  of  buttons,  window  springs,  starch,  hats,  and  perhaps  other  articles. 

fin  this  gale  the  spire  of  the  Second  Congregational  Church  was  also  blown  down 
crushing  part  of  an  adjoining  house. 

45 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

of  a  temporary  chapel  on  ground  furnished  by  S.  M.  Buckingham, 
senior  warden,  at  the  corner  of  West  Main  and  State  Streets,  and 
the  first  service  was  held  there  March  29,  1869.  It  was  a  com- 
fortable building,  measuring  100  feet  by  40,  with  seats  for  629 
persons.  It  cost  about  $6500.  and  was  the  home  of  the  parish 
for  nearly  four  years. 

While  the  temporary  chapel  was  being  prepared  another  com- 
mittee took  in  hand  the  subject  of  a  new  church,  and  subscription 
papers  were  at  once  circulated.  About  $35,000  were  received 
for  insurance,  but  it  was  clear  that  this  would  not  go  far  towards  a 
new  church.  Between  the  building  of  the  two  churches,  our 
Civil  War  had  taken  place,  and,  at  the  date  now  referred  to,  values 
had  not  yet  assumed  their  normal  proportions.  The  style  of 
living,  the  demands  of  the  public,  the  whole  structure  of  society 
in  short,  had  been  changed.  The  new  church,  relatively,  was 
not  much  in  advance  of  the  old  one,  but  it  probably  cost  four 
times  as  much. 

The  first  vote  was  to  raise  $100,000,  but  it  was  soon  found 
that  this  would  not  do  what  was  wanted,  and  the  amount  was 
increased  to  $125,000.  The  following  summary  shows  the  cost 
and  value  of  the  building  and  the  land: 

Contract  (and  extras)  for  mason  and  joiner  work,         .         $117,855 

Windows, 3,532 

Heating  apparatus  and  plumbing,        ....  6,536 

Gas  fixtures, 1,500 

Architect's  fees, 4,969 

Decoration, 2,700 

Oiling, 550 

Carpets,  cushions,  altar  furniture  and  sundries,        .        .  7,083 


$144,725 
Special  gifts  (estimated) : 

Two  organs $12,000 

Chimes,  clock  and  bust  ....  10,000 

Stained  windows, 5,000 

27,000 


$171,725 

The  value  of  the  ground  and  of  the  foundations,  which  were 
very  heavy  (the  old  foundations  having  been  added  to  but  not 

46 


ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH,  1848. 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

disturbed),  makes  the  total  value  about  $200,000.  To  this  can 
now  be  added  the  rectory  and  lot,  valued  at  $25,000,  and  the 
parish  house*  and  the  State  Street  lot,  the  value  of  which  is 
about  $27,000. 

The  founding  of  the  second  parish,  although  not  accomplished 
until  some  years  later,  was  substantially  decided  upon  in  con- 
nection with  the  building  of  the  new  church.  What  is  to  be  said 
in  regard  to  it  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  Trinity  Parish. 

In  this  connection  it  seems  appropriate  to  insert  the  following 
letter  from  a  member  of  the  parish,  addressed  to  the  Building 
Committee. 

"It  would  seem  as  if  the  proper  course  for  St.  John's  Parish  to  take  in 
regard  to  a  new  church  depended  very  materially  upon  the  answer  which  is 
to  be  given  to  a  question  that  has  as  yet  received  no  very  careful  consideration 
by  the  Parish. 

This  question  is,  Is  it  desirable  to  have  a  second  parish  in  Waterbury? 

Some  members  of  the  parish  have  expressed  themselves  as  of  the  opinion 
that  a  second  parish  is  not  only  desirable  but  absolutely  essential  to  the 
growth  of  the  Church.  There  may  be  others  who  do  not  entertain  the  same 
opinion,  but  so  far  as  I  have  heard  any  opinion  expressed  it  has  seemed  to 
lean  towards  a  new  parish. 

Whatever  the  real  opinion  of  the  parish  may  be  is  it  not  highly  important 
that  the  opinion  should  be  ascertained  and  the  whole  subject  carefully  weighed 
and  definitely  decided  upon  before  proceeding  on  a  course  of  action  so  im- 
portant as  building  a  new  church— involving  an  outlay  of  considerably  more 
than  $100,000  and  fixing  the  condition  of  the  parish  for  some  years  to  come. 

So  far  as  I  understand  the  matter  at  present  we  seem  to  be  admitting  that 
a  new  parish  is  desirable  while  we  are  at  the  same  time  managing  affairs  as  if 
there  were  to  be  none.  For, 

First.  Is  it  not  as  certain  as  anything  well  can  be  that  if  we  raise  and 
expend  from  $100,000  to  $130,000  in  a  new  church  it  will  be  many  years,  at 


*At  the  Spring  meeting  of  this  parish  in  1890,  the  following  vote  was  passed: 
Voted,  That  the  rector  of  the  parish  and  the  board  of  managers  of  the  church  home 
and  charity  foundation  fund,  be,  and  are  hereby  authorized  to  erect  a  church  home  building 
on  the  lands  of  the  parish  in  the  rear  of  the  lot  west  of  the  church,  substantially  in  accord- 
ance with  the  plans  herewith  submitted,  said  building  to  be  erected  under  the  provisions 
and  for  the  purposes  set  forth  in  the  gift  to  the  parish  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  Samuel  W. 
Hall,  as  appears  on  records  of  the  parish;  the  expense  of  said  building  to  be  paid  from  said 
fund. 

The  corner  stone  was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  July  30,  1890.  A  copper  box, 
with  church  records,  municipal  documents,  coins,  etc.,  was  placed  in  it.  The  building  is 
41^x66  feet  besides  the  wing  occupied  by  the  sexton.  There  are  three  floors,  one  of  which 
is  a  hall  with  a  stage  and  dressing  rooms.  One  floor  is  used  by  the  Young  Men's  Guild, 
and  has  a  billiard  table.  Most  of  the  minor  meetings  of  the  parish  organizations,  choir 
rehearsals,  etc.,  are  held  in  this  building. 

47 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

least  one  generation,  before  we  can  hope  to  build  another  church  which  will 
compare  so  favorably  with  the  first  one  as  to  attract  a  new  audience  or  draw 
the  necessary  support  from  the  paying  members  of  the  older  parish. 

Second.  If  we  do  not  think  it  wise  immediately  to  have  a  second  parish 
we  ought  to  build  a  new  church  with  that  fact  fully  in  view  and  so  lay  our 
plans  as  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the  case.  The  first  of  these  is  that 
the  new  church  should  be  considerably  larger  than,  or  at  least  contain  con- 
siderably more  seat  room  than,  the  old  one.  When  that  church  was  built  the 
population  of  Waterbury  was  less  than  five  thousand.  It  is  now  more  than 
fifteen  thousand,  but  the  seat  room  for  churchmen  is  no  greater  in  the  town 
now  than  it  was  then — except  the  chapel  at  Waterville  which  in  no  way  sup- 
plies the  increased  demand. 

This  lack  of  growth  is  by  no  means  creditable  to  the  church  here,  but  we 
cannot  grow  without,  room  and  for  the  last  fifteen  years  there  have  been  no 
spare  seats.  If  therefore  we  are  to  grow,  and  not  to  grow  is  disgraceful  and 
wrong,  and  if  we  are  to  have  but  one  parish,  we  must  have  a  larger  church. 
I  know  the  objections  to  a  larger  church  are  many  and  weighty,  but  what  else 
can  we  do — if  we  cease  to  grow  we  begin  to  die. 

On  the  other  hand  if  we  are  to  have  a  new  parish  our  new  church  should 
be  built  smaller  than  the  old  one,  and  relatively  at  a  less  expense,  that  is,  at  a 
less  expense  than  one  of  the  same  size  as  the  old  one  would  cost  now. 

Our  new  church  should  be  built,  then,  for  six  hundred  to  eight  hundred 
sittings;  it  should  have  no  side  galleries;  it  could  or  should  therefore  be 
built  much  lower  than  the  plans  now  under  discussion,  would  require  a  lower 
spire  and  could  be  made  in  all  respects  more  elegant  and  complete. 

It  would  be  far  easier  to  heat  and  better  to  speak  in.  For  a  church  of 
that  size  the  present  foundations  would  be  ample  for  chancel,  chapel  and  all 
necessary  conveniences. 

Suppose  now  we  raise  $100,000,  and  build  a  church  which  we  can  complete 
and  furnish  for  $80,000— say  for  church  $65,000— organ  and  furniture  $15,000. 
Then  take  the  remaining  $20,000,  put  it  with  the  $30,000  insurance  money, 
put  it  on  interest  for  five  years  and  we  have  nearly  enough  to  build  a  second 
church. 

When  our  first  church  is  fairly  completed,  say  hi  three  or  four  years, 
initiatory  steps  should  be  taken  for  the  second.  This  should  be  as  large  as 
the  first  and  in  all  respects  equal  to  it,  and  with  experience  gained  in  building 
the  first  the  second  ought  to  be  superior  to  it,  and  would  be. 

These  two  would  give  say  sixteen  hundred  sittings,  representing  an 
increase  of  not  less  than  six  hundred  to  seven  hundred  church  goers  over  the 
present  number  and  giving  us  two  active,  healthy  and  friendly  parishes. 
And  these  two  with  a  generous  and  Christian  rivalry  in  good  works  ought  to 
in  five  years  more  to  give  us  the  material  for  a  third  equally  numerous  and 
vigorous. 

48 


.:..:;:     ~^:^-  -" 

ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH  AFTER  THE  HIGH  WIND,  JANUARY  19,  1857. 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  sound  judges  that  had  our  old  church  been  two-thirds 
its  size  we  should  long  since  have  had  two  active  prosperous  parishes.' ' 

Memorandum.  The  foregoing  was  submitted  to  the  building  committee 
and  other  leading  members  of  the  parish.  Its  views  were  approved  and  the 
consequence  was  the  size  of  the  church  was  reduced  from  the  original  plan 
more  than  one  hundred  sittings;  but  the  expense  of  the  reduced  plan  was 
greater  than  it  was  supposed  the  other  would  be,  so  that  it  is  extremely 
doubtful  if  another  parish  can  be  established  in  ten  years. 

September,  1871. 

The  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Williams  on  St.  John's 
day,  June  24,  1873.  As  already  indicated  it  is  unusually  rich 
in  memorial  windows  and  other  memorials,  gifts  for  the  most 
part  of  members  of  the  parish.  The  most  valuable  of  these  is 
the  great  organ,  built  by  Hook  &  Hastings  at  a  cost  of  $10,000. 
It  was  the  gift  of  Abram  Ives.  Next  is  the  marble  bust  of  Bishop 
Brownell,  by  Ives,  the  sculptor,  surmounted  by  a  richly  carved 
Gothic  canopy  of  Caen  stone,  the  whole  structure  being  about 
twenty-five  feet  in  height.  It  bears  the  following  inscriptions: 

The  Right  Reverend  Thomas  Church  Brownell,  D.  D.,  S.  T.  D.  Born  in 
Westport,  Mass.,  October  XIX,  MDCCLXXIX.  Consecrated  third  Bishop 
of  Connecticut,  October  XXVII,  MDCCCXIX.  Founder  and  first  President 
of  Trinity  College.  Presiding  Bishop  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  United  States.  Died  in  Hartford,  Jan.  XIII,  MDCCCLXV,  in  the 
LXXXVI  year  of  his  age  and  the  XL VI  year  of  his  episcopate. 

"Blessed  are  the  peacemakers,  for  they  shall  be  called  the  children  of 
God." 

Erected  by  Gordon  W.  Burnham,  A.  D.,  MDCCCLXXI. 

In  memory  of  Gordon  W.  Burnham,  who  was  born  in  Hampton,  Conn., 
Mar.  20,  1803,  and  died  in  N.  Y.  city  Mar.  18,  1885.  He  was  at  one  time  a 
vestryman  of  St.  John's  Church,  and  with  his  wife  Louisa,  a  daughter  of  the 
Rt.  Rev.  T.  C.  Brownell,  D.  D.,  S.  T.  D.,  bestowed  liberal  gifts  upon  the 
church. 

"Yea,  because  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  our  God  I  will  seek  to  do  thee 
good." 

This  canopy  was  first  erected  over  the  altar,  but  was  subse- 
quently removed  to  the  south  wall  of  the  chancel  arch.  The 
expense  of  this  change  was  borne  by  Mr.  Burnham's  sons,  and 
the  inscription  to  his  memory  was  added  by  direction  of  the 
parish  at  that  time. 

49 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Under  the  north  gallery  is  a  black  marble  tablet  with  this 
inscription  in  gilt  letters: 

In  memory  of  the  Rev.  James  Scovil,  born  in  Waterbury,  Jan.  27,  1732, 
graduated  at  Yale  College,  1757.  Ordained  by  Zachary  Pearce,  Lord  Bishop 
of  Rochester,  at  St.  Peter's  (Westminster  Abbey),  England,  April  1,  1759. 
Missionary  of  the  Yen.  S.  P.  G.  to  this  parish  (then  St.  James),  and  its  first 
resident  rector,  1759-1788.  Died  at  Kingston,  N.  B.,  Dec.  19,  1808. 

Also  of  James  Scovill,  Esquire,  his  son.  For  many  years  an  officer  of 
this  parish.  Born  March  19,  1764,  Died  November  26,  1825. 

This  tablet  is  placed  here  by  their  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren, 
1885. 

The  Bible  and  Prayer  Book  which  were  presented  to  the  Rev. 
James  Scovil  by  Ven.  S.  P.  G.  at  the  time  of  his  ordination  in 
Westminster  Abbey  in  1759,  and  were  used  in  this  church  about 
60  years  and  then  by  a  vote  of  the  parish  presented  to  an  Epis- 
copal Church  in  Waterbury,  Ohio,  were  returned  here  and  repose 
in  an  oaken  case,  with  a  suitable  inscription,  the  gift  of  Mrs. 
Frederick  J.  Kingsbury,  a  great-granddaughter  of  Mr.  Scovil. 

The  chimes,  consisting  of  ten  bells,  were  the  gift  of  G.  W. 
Burnham,  and  the  clock  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Burnham. 

St.  John's  chimes  were  received  in  December,  1871.  The  parish  meet- 
ing accepting  it,  etc.,  Dec.  31.  The  paper  says  the  bells  arrived  the  19th. 
They  are  from  E.  A.  &  G.  R.  Meneely  of  West  Troy,  N.  Y. 

E,  2520  Ibs.  This  chime  of  ten  bells  was  presented  to  St.  John's  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  of  Waterbury,  Connecticut,  by  Gordon  W.  Burnham 
of  New  York,  A.  D.  MDCCCLXXI.  Rev.  Jacob  L.  Clark,  D.D.,  rector. 
Rev.  Frances  T.  Russell,  associate  rector.  S.  M.  Buckingham  and  I.  E.  New- 
ton, Wardens.  Vestrymen,  S.  W.  Hale,  T.  I.  Driggs,  W.  Lamb,  George  Pritch- 
ard,  B.  P.  Chatfield,  J.  W.  Smith,  J.  S.  Elton,  H.  V.  Welton,  R.  E.  Hitchcock, 
N.  Dikeman,  F.  J.  Kingsbury,  C.  B.  Merriman,  George  F.  Perry,  N.  J.  Welton. 
N.  Dikeman,  Treasurer,  R.  E.  Hitchcock,  clerk.  Henry  Dudley,  Architect. 
B.  P.  and  H.  K.  Chatfield,  Contractors.  "  My  mouth  shall  show  forth  thy 
praise." 

F  Sharp,  1780  Ibs.    Glory  to  God  in  the  highest  and  on  earth  peace. 

E,  380  Ibs.  And  the  spirit  and  the  bride  say  come,  and  let  him  that 
heareth  say  come. 

G  Sharp,  1250  Ibs.  Young  men  and  maidens,  old  men  and  children  praise 
the  name  of  the  Lord. 

E.  380  Ibs.  And  the  spirit  and  the  bride  say  come,  and  let  him  that  hear- 
eth say  come. 

50 


ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH  AFTER  THE  FIRE,  DECEMBER  24,  1868. 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

G  Sharp,  1250  Ibs.  Young  men  and  maidens,  old  men  and  children 
praise  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

A,  1080  Ibs.     Hearest  thou  what  these  say? 

B,  840  Ibs.     Let  everything  that  hath  breath  praise  the  Lord. 

C  Sharp,  620  Ibs.  O  come  let  us  worship  and  fall  down  and  kneel 
before  the  Lord  our  maker. 

D,  514  Ibs.     Lift  up  your  hands  in  the  sanctuary. 

D  Sharp,  476  Ibs.  I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me  we  will  go  into 
the  house  of  the  Lord. 

F  Sharp,  250  Ibs.  To  tell  of  thy  loving  kindness  early  in  the  morning 
and  of  thy  truth  in  the  night  season. 

THE   CHIMES   OF  ST.    JOHN'S   CHURCH. 

From  the  Waterbury  American,  Feb.  15,  1872. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  wardens  and  vestry  of  St.  John's  parish,  Waterbury, 
held  in  the  chapel  on  the  31st  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1871,  the  letters  of 
Gordon  W.  Burnham,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  formerly  a  member  of  this  parish, 
were  presented  and  read.  Upon  motion  it  was : 

Resolved,  That  the  letters  of  Mr.  Burnham  be  entered  at  length  upon  the 
records  of  the  parish. 

Resolved,  that  the  thanks  of  the  parish  be  tendered  to  Mr.  Burnham, 
not  only  for  his  generous  confidence  in  selecting  us  as  the  guardians  of  this 
valued  memorial  of  our  late  revered  Bishop,  but  also  for  the  fitting  and  beau- 
tiful work  he  has  caused  to  be  prepared  to  receive  and  protect  it:  The  whole 
constituting  a  worthy  ornament  to  our  church,  an  object  of  sacred  interest  to 
all  who  shall  hereafter  come  within  its  walls,  a  monument  to  a  much-loved 
Bishop,  and  a  memorial  of  the  giver  which  we  shall  hope  ever  gratefully  to 
preserve. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  parish  are  due  to  Mr.  Burnham  for  the 
elegant  and  costly  chime  of  ten  bells  which  he  has  caused  to  be  placed  in  the 
tower  of  our  church,  and  that  in  this  gift  he  is  a  benefactor  not  only  to  the 
parish,  but  to  the  entire  community. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  record  of  this  meeting,  authenticated  by  the 
signatures  of  the  Rector,  the  Associate  Rector,  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen 
of  this  parish,  be  engrossed  upon  parchment  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Burnham,  and  that  copies  be  furnished  to  the  papers  of  the  city  and  to  the 
Churchman  for 'publication. 

JACOB  L.  CLARK,  Rector. 

FRANCIS  T.  RUSSELL,  Associate  Rector. 

SCOVILL  M.  BUCKINGHAM, 

ISAAC  E.  NEWTON,  Wardens. 

S.  W.  Hall,  F.  J.  Kingsbury,  R.  E.  Hitchcock,  J.  W.  Smith,  Geo.  Pritchard, 
C.  B.  Merriman,  T.  I.  Driggs,  J.  S.  Elton.,  N.  Dikeman,  E.  A.  Pierpont,  H.  V. 
Welton,  B.  P.  Chatfield,  George  F.  Perry,  J.  H.  Sandland,  Vestrymen. 

51 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

This  chime  of  bells  is  from  the  factory  of  Meneely  &  Co.,  Troy,  and  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  very  best  specimens  of  their  workmanship.  The  clearness 
and  richness  of  tone  could  scarcely  be  excelled, — crystalline  and  mellow  in 
sound.  The  resonant  quality  of  the  bells  ought  to  be  satisfactory  certainly, 
when  we  hear  it  reported  that  the  aged  watchman  upon  Zion's  walls  in  Water- 
town  has  distinctly  heard  their  melody  like  musical  spirits  singing  up  the 
valley. 

It  is  a  mistaken  notion  that  silver  adds  to  the  richness  of  tone  in  church 
bells.  It  gives  softness  to  be  sure,  but  the  best  alloy  is  found  to  be  of  tin  and 
copper,  and  sometimes  zinc.  Silver,  lead,  and  other  metals  have  not  the 
resonant  quality  for  the  best  effect.  The  bell  on  the  church  at  East  Haddam 
has  something  of  a  muffled  sound  from  the  element  of  silver,  as  it  is  supposed. 
It  is  a  very  ancient  bell,  and  is  well  worth  a  climb  into  the  tower  to  see.  It 
was  sent  to  this  country  a  few  years  ago  from  Spain,  and  may  be,  in  fact 
judging  from  the  inscriptions,  etc.,  must  be,  hundreds  of  years  old.  But  to 
return  to  our  bells.  We  say  our,  for  we  are  all  equal  sharers  in  the  enjoyment 
of  them.  They  are  all  superior  in  workmanship  and  are  hung  with  the  latest 
mechanical  improvements.  Each  bell  is  appropriately  inscribed  with  mottoes, 
" Holiness  to  the  Lord,"  "My  mouth  shall  sound  forth  thy  praise,"  etc.,  etc. 
The  name  of  the  donor  is  also  upon  each  bell  and  in  case  the  chime  should  ever 
be  broken  up  and  scattered  abroad  it  could  again  be  recovered.  The  ten 
bells  are  on  the  notes  E,  F,  G,  A,  B,  C,  D,  D,  E,  F, — four  sharps  and  one  flat. 
This  gives  great  variety  and  a  wide  range  of  tunes.  Gardner  in  his  "Music  of 
Nature/ '  gives  the  number  of  changes  for  ten  bells  as  three  million  six  hundred 
twenty-eight  thousand  and  eight  hundred,  so  that  it  will  be  seen  there  is  no 
danger  of  our  being  confined  to  a  limited  range  of  tunes.  Especially  as  the 
same  author  states  that  the  ringing  of  seven  hundred  and  twenty  changes  on 
twelve  bells  (two  more  than  ours)  in  an  hour,  would  require  an  incessant 
ringing  of  seventy  years  to  complete  the  entire  number. 

In  the  descriptive  catalogue  of  Meneely  we  find  the  following  statement : 

"  A  chime  is  set  a  of  bells  so  attuned  that  the  notes  follow  each  other  at 
diatonic  intervals;  a  peal  is  a  set  attuned  to  harmonic  intervals.  Thus  a  set 
of  bells  upon  the  eight  notes  of  the  scale  is  a  chime;  a  set  upon  the  first,  third, 
fifth,  and  eighth  is  a  peal. 

The  smallest  number  of  bells  that  may  be  said  to  compose  a  chime  is  five, 
while  what  might  be  called  the  natural  number  is  eight, — representing  the 
eight  notes  of  the  scale;  but  as  the  addition  of  an  extra  bell  giving  the  note 
of  the  flat  seventh  creates  a  new  series  of  diatonic  tones  in  the  key  of  the 
fourth,  thus  allowing  music  of  two  different  keys  to  be  played,  this  bell  is 
usually  added  to  the  octave,  so  that  a  full  chime  is  now  understood  to  consist 
of  at  least  nine  bells. 

The  usual  manner  of  mounting  chimes  in  this  country  is  to  swing  the 
tenor  (or  largest)  bell  after  the  manner  of  an  ordinary  church  bell,  the  others 

52 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

being  suspended  stationarily  from  trusses  and  placed  in  such  relative  positions 
as  the  construction  of  the  belfry  will  admit.  Attached  to  the  clappers  are 
leather  cords  which  are  led  by  pulleys  and  rods  to  the  ringer's  room  below 
and  there  connected  with  levers  which  may  be  easily  manipulated  by  one 
person.  This  differs  from  the  old  English  mode  in  that  the  latter  requires 
that  each  bell  be  swung,  thus  requiring  a  ringer  to  each  as  also  a  tower  of 
great  capacity  and  strength.' ' 

We  observe  that  out  of  the  seventy-two  different  chimes  manufactured 
by  the  Meneelys  in  this  country  and  Canada,  that  there  are  only  two  exceeding, 
and  but  five  equalling  ours  in  number.  We  state  these  facts  that  our  citizens 
may  realize  our  indebtedness  to  Mr.  Burnham,  and  we  have  only  to  regret  that 
his  heart  cannot  be  cheered  as  often  as  ours  by  the  sweet  music  of  the  bells 
of  St.  John's  church.  We  trust  that  this  munificent  gift  may  be  the  means 
of  provoking  moneyed  men  elsewhere  to  the  same  good  work. 

A  brass  tablet  on  a  background  of  Spanish  griotte  marble 
(the  work  of  Giessler  of  New  York)  was  the  gift  of  the  Sunday 
schools  of  St.  John's  and  Trinity  parishes.  It  bears  this  inscrip- 
tion: 

In  grateful  remembrance  of  the  Reverend  Jacob  Lyman  Clark,  D.  D. 
Born  at  Westhampton,  Mass.,  Sept.  19,  1807,  graduated  at  Trinity  College, 
1831,  ordained  deacon  June  29,  1835,  and  priest  July  5,  1836.  Instituted 
rector  of  this  parish,  Easter,  1837,  where  for  forty  years  he  faithfully  served 
God  and  ministered  to  His  people,  until  he  entered  into  rest,  January  26, 1877. 
'  'For  he  was  a  good  man  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith,  and  much 
people  were  added  unto  the  Lord.' ' 

"  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor.' ' 

A  small  brass  tablet  upon  a  background  of  carved  oak,  on 
the  side  wall  of  the  chancel,  is  inscribed  as  follows: 

In  memoriam  rei.  The  Rev'd  John  Williams,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected 
fourth  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut  at  a  Convention  held  in  St.  John's 
Church,  Waterbury,  June  11,  1851. 

"  That  thou  shouldst  set  in  order  the  things  that  are  wanting.' ' 

The  memorial  windows  are  sixteen  in  number,  and  are  in 
memory  of  the  following  persons: 

In  memory  of  James  Mitchell  Lamson  Scovill. 
Died  May  16,  1857,  aged  68  years. 

"  A  certain  Samaritan  when  he  saw  him  had  compassion  on  him." 
53 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

In  memory  of  John  Prince  Elton. 
Died  November  10,  1864,  aged  55  years. 

"Thy  will  be  done." 

In  memory  of  Edward  S.  Clark. 
Died  June  20,  1862,  aged  51  years. 

"  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life.' ' 

Minnie  Adelaide,  daughter  of  Orrin  and  Eunice  A.  Scott. 
Died  May  25,  1871,  aged  6  years  and  7  months 

"  He  giveth  his  beloved  sleep." 

William  Henry  Scovill— July  27,  1796— March  27,  1854. 
"Ye  clothed  me— Ye  gave  me  drink." 

Eunice  Ruth  Davies,  wife  of  William  Henry  Scovill. 
Born  at  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  5,  1807— Died  at  Waterbury  Nov.  25, 1839. 

"Ye  gave  me  to  eat,  Ye  visited  me." 

Nancy  Maria  Austin   Hall. 
Died  February  8,  1868,  aged  53  years. 

"  I  know  thy  works  and  thy  patience. 
The  Lord  will  receive  my  prayer.' ' 

Daniel  Scott— Died  Oct.  6,  1874,  aged  92  years. 
"  Bring  forth  the  best  robe  and  put  it  on  him  and  let  us  eat  and  be  merry.' ' 

On  the  same  window: 

In  memory  of  Roxy  Scott — Died  Nov.  4,  1870,  aged  77  years. 

In  memory  of  Mary  B.  Ives— Died  Jan.  30,  1870,  aged  55  years. 
From  Sarah  Ives  Plumb. 

In  the  memory  of  Abram  Ives — Died  July  18,  1819,  aged  51  years. 
By  J.  Neale  Plumb. 

In  memory  of  John  Buckingham — Died  May  3,  1867,  aged  81  years. 

An  excellent  spirit  was  found  in  him. 

"  As  for  me  and  my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord.' ' 

54 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

In  memory  of  Charles  Buckingham  Merriman,  1809-1899. 
"Now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace  according  to  thy  word." 

In  grateful  remembrance.     George  Lyman  Welton. 
May  27,  1867— March  7,  1900. 

In  loving  memory  of  Ruth  A.  Farrell. 
Born  Jan.  31, 1808.    Died  Nov.  23, 1883. 

In  memory  of  Theodore  Ives  Driggs. 
October  25,  1829— June  28,  1893. 

"  We  praise  thee  O  God,  we  acknowledge  thee  to  be  the  Lord.' ' 

In  the  chancel:  A  book  rest. 

In  loving  memory  of  Morton  Campbell  Driggs. 

March  5,  1884— March  3,  1900. 
From  Kingsley  R.  MacGuffie,  a  school  friend. 

The  Arch  under  the  Chancel  Organ  was  the  gift  of  Robert  W.  Hill. 

The  Reredos  was  the  gift  of  James  S.  Elton  in  memory  of  his  father, 
John  Prince  Elton,  April  24, 1809 — Nov.  10,  1864;  and  of  his  mother,  Olive 
Margaret  Hall  Elton,  June  25,  1816— Nov.  12,  1892. 

The  chancel  tiling  was  the  gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  M.  Burrall  in  mem- 
ory of  her  father  and  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  C.  Booth. 

The  tiling  of  the  vestibule,  the  rood  railing  and  the  arch  over  the  Bap- 
tistry were  the  gift  of  Frederick  J.  Kingsbury  in  memory  of  his  wife,  Alathea 
Ruth  Scovill,  March  21,  1828— Dec.  7,  1899. 

The  Chancel  Organ  and  the  electric  connection  of  the  two  organs  were  the 
gift  of  Henry  H.  Peck. 

A  pair  of  chalices  adorned  with  jewels  bearing  the  inscription: 

"To  the  Glory  of  God"  and  in  loving  memory  of  Frances  Rosalia  Phillips 
Welton.     1832-1900.     Made  from  her  own  jewels  and  silver 
and  presented  to  St.  John's  Church,  Waterbury,  Conn.,  by 
her  husband,  Nelson  J.  Welton. 

"  I  believe  in  the  communion  of  the  Saints.' ' 
55 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Alms  basin,  by  Miss  Merriman's  S.  S.  Class. 

Spoon,  by  Mary  Sigourney,  wife  of  Rev.  F.  T.  Russell. 

Two  Brass  Vases,  in  memory  of  Alathea  Scovil  Kingsbury. 

Bishop  Williams'  Act  of  Consecration  June  24, 1873,  is  framed  and  hung  in 
the  vestry.* 

The  following  sentences  are  cut  in  the  limestone  belt  course 
along  the  outside  of  the  church: 

"  Ye  shall  reverence  my  Sanctuary,  I  am  the  Lord." 

"I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me  we  will  go  into  the  house  of  the 
Lord." 

"Enter  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving  and  into  his  Courts  with  praise." 

"Be  thankful  unto  him  and  speak  good  of  his  name.  For  the  Lord  is 
gracious,  his  mercy  is  everlasting  and  his  truth  endureth  from  generation  to 
generation." 

On  the  tower: 

St.  John's  Church  erected  1846. 

Burned  Dec.  24, 1868. 

Rebuilt  1870. 

The  baptismal  font,  of  carved  Ohio  stone  and  marble,  is  a 
memorial  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  D.  Welton,  who  died  January  16, 
1825.  It  was  given  by  Hobart  V.  Welton,  his  son.  The  font 
cover  is  in  loving  memory  of  Hobart  V.  Welton,  1811-1895,  by  his 
son,  Edwin  D.  Welton.  The  lectern,  an  eagle  carved  in  oak,  is  a 
memorial  of  William  H.  White,  who  died  in  1873.  The  Bible, 
Prayer-Book  and  Hymnal  were  presented  by  Mrs.  Betsey  Elton, 
in  1872;  the  alms  basin  and  communion  service  by  classes  in  the 
Sunday  school.  The  gilt  cross  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  John  Bucking- 
ham. Spoon  by  Miss  Pierpont's  Sunday  School  class,  Trinity 
Sunday,  1890. 

The  window  to  William  H.  Scovill,  which  would  have  been 
hidden  by  the  Church  organ  had  it  remained  in  its  original  place, 
was  divided  and  occupies  two  windows  under  the  gallery. 

In  1875,  owing  to  the  crowded  condition  of  the  church,  it  was 
voted  to  rent  the  front  seats  in  the  gallery. 

*The  Rev.  Chauncey  Brewster,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  elected  the  fifth  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
at  »  Convention  held  in  this  church.  June  11.  1897.! 

56 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

At  the  annual  parish  meeting  April  2,  1877,  the  Rev.  J.  Foote 
Bingham,  D.  D.,  who  had  been  associate  rector  with  Dr.  Clark 
during  the  year  previous  to  his  death,  was  made  rector  of  the 
parish.  He  is  a  native  of  Andover  (Conn.),  graduated  from  Yale 
College,  in  the  class  of  1852,  and  received  the  degree  of  S.  T.  D. 
from  Western  Reserve  in  1869.  He  remained  rector  of  the  parish 
until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  he  resigned  and  removed  to  Hart- 
ford. He  has  since  resided  there  without  permanent  charge. 

Samuel  W.  Hall,  whose  wise  and  generous  gifts  to  St.  John's 
parish  and  for  other  public  uses  deserves  special  notice,  died 
March  5,  1877.  He  left  to  the  parish  in  trust  (the  income  only 
to  be  used)  $10,000  for  the  poor  of  the  parish,  $5,000  for  church 
repairs  and  $3,000  for  the  parish  library.  He  also  left  $10,000  to 
trustees  to  be  used  for  a  widows'  home,  provided  that  an  equal 
sum  should  be  raised  by  the  parish  for  the  same  purpose  within 
three  years.  As  it  seemed  desirable  that  the  form  of  this  trust 
should  be  somewhat  modified,  the  bequest  was  allowed  to  lapse, 
and  the  sum  named  was  then  given  by  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Hall  to  the 
parish,  under  a  trust,  in  the  modified  form.  For  the  clear  and 
judicious  arrangement  of  this  trust  the  parish  is  indebted  to  Dr. 
Bingham. 

After  Dr.  Bingham's  resignation  the  Rev.  Rob  Roy  McGregor 
McNulty,  who  had  been  assistant  minister  during  the  previous 
year,  became  rector,  and  remained  with  the  parish  until  Septem- 
ber 20,  1883.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent,  a  native  of  western 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  graduate  of  Washington  and  Jefferson 
college  in  the  class  of  1867.  While  here,  for  family  reasons,  he 
took  the  name  of  Converse  and  dropped  that  of  McNulty.  Both 
names  appear  on  the  parish  record.  On  leaving  here  he  went  to 
Corning,  N.  Y.,  was  afterwards  connected  with  Hobart  College 
at  Geneva,  and  is  now  rector  of  St.  Luke's  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

The  Rev.  Edmund  Rowland,  D.D.,  succeeded  Mr.  Converse 
as  rector  in  the  spring  of  1884.  He  is  a  native  of  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  a  graduate  of  Trinity  College  in  the  class  of  1857,  and 
the  Berkeley  Divinity  School  in  1859.  He  has  been  rector  at 
Saratoga  and  at  Goshen,  N.  Y.,  twice  at  New  Bedford,  Mass., 
and  at  Cincinnati,  and  officiated  for  a  while  at  the  American  Church 

57 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

in  Rome.  He  resigned  the  rectorship  of  St.  John's  in  April,  1891, 
and  was  made  rector  emeritus,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

Rev.  John  N.  Lewis,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Annandale,  Dutchess 
County,  New  York,  on  June  18th,  1869;  fitted  for  College  in  public 
school,  graduated  at  Williams  College,  June,  1899,  Berkeley  Divin- 
ity School,  June,  1892,  and  was  ordained  deacon,  June  8th,  1892, 
and  priest,  June,  1893.  Both  ordinations  by  Bishop  Williams. 

During  Seminary  course  acted  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  W.  W. 
Newton,  D.D.,  of  St.  Stephen's  Church,  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  also  as 
lay  reader  in  charge  of  St.  George's  Church,  Lee,  Mass.,  and  St. 
John's  Church,  Pine  Meadow,  Conn. 

From  June,  1892,  to  June,  1894,  was  assistant  minister  at  St. 
George's,  New  York,  Dr.  Rainsford. 

From  June,  1894,  to  May,  1897,  was  rector  of  Grace  Church, 
Honesdale,  Penn. 

From  May,  1897,  to  September,  1900,  was  Dean  of  Christ 
Church  Cathedral,  Lexington,  Kentucky. 

From  September,  1900,  to  August,  1901,  was  associate  rector 
of  St.  John's  Church,  Waterbury,  Conn. 

From  August,  1901,  up  to  the  present  has  been  rector  of  St. 
John's. 

In  1884  John  C.  Booth  and  Mrs.  Olive  M.  Elton  presented  to 
the  parish  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Church  and  West  Main  streets, 
and  a  rectory  was  erected  thereon,  which  was  completed  in  the 
spring  of  1886  at  a  cost  of  about  $16,000.  The  rectory  on  Leaven- 
worth  street  (which  had  been  purchased  at  the  time  of  Dr.  Clark's 
second  marriage)  was  sold.  In  1890-91  the  managers  of  the  Hall 
fund  erected  for  the  use  of  the  parish,  at  a  cost  of  about  $16,000, 
a  commodious  building  of  brick  and  granite,  known  as  the  "  Par- 
ish house." 

Since  the  middle  of  the  last  century  St.  John's  parish  has  had 
an  assistant  minister  during  a  large  part  of  the  time.  In  several 
instances  the  assistant  was  elected  rector;  in  other  cases  assistants 
have  become  rectors  of  other  important  parishes.  The  following 
list  gives  the  names  of  most  of  them,  with  biographical  memo- 
randa. 

In   October,  1849,  the   Rev.   John   A.   Paddock,   afterwards 

58 


REV.  JOHN  N.  LEWIS,  JK. 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

Bishop  of  Washington,  preached  here  a  few  times  and  was  invited 
to  become  an  assistant,  but,  having  meanwhile  received  a  call 
to  the  parish  of  Stratford,  he  accepted  that.  The  Rev.  George  W. 
Home  was  then  employed.  He  resigned  December  9,  1850,  to 
take  a  parish  at  Oswego,  N.  Y.  Not  very  long  afterward  he 
became  a  missionary  to  Africa  and  died  at  Rocktown,  in  Africa, 
October  2,  1854.  He  was  born  at  Kingston,  Jamaica,  W.  I., 
May  5,  1821,  was  educated  in  part  at  a  Wesleyan  institution  in 
England  and  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Jarvis,  of 
Middletown.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Edward  Jessup, 
who  remained  here  until  the  spring  of  1852,  when  he  took  a  parish 
in  Chicopee,  Mass.  He  was  afterwards  in  Bath,  Me.,  and  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.  He  was  a  native  of  Westfield,  Mass.,  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  Class  of  1847,  and  died  in  Switzerland,  whither 
he  had  gone  for  his  health  in  1872. 

The  Rev.  Charles  G.  Acly  came  next,  beginning  his  ministry 
here  in  March,  1852.  He  resided  at  Waterville,  as  the  amount  of 
work  he  found  to  do  there  seemed  to  make  it  desirable.  A  chapel 
had  been  built  there,  and  consecrated  June,  1851.  He  resigned 
at  Easter,  1856,  and  soon  after  became  rector  at  New  Milford, 
where  he  died  in  1880. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Appleton  succeeded  from  1856  to  1858. 
He  was  born  in  Gloucester,  Mass.,  in  1808,  graduated  from  Am- 
herst  College  in  1832,  studied  theology  at  Andover,  Mass.,  and 
was  ordained  deacon  in  1834  and  priest  in  1835.  He  went  from 
here  to  Morrisania,  N.  Y.,  and  died  there  November  29,  1873. 

The  Rev.  Junius  M.  Willey  became  associate  rector  in  April, 
1858.  He  resigned  in  December,  1861,  to  take  the  chaplaincy 
of  the  Third  Regiment,  Connecticut  Volunteers,  commanded  by 
Colonel  John  L.  Chatfield,  who  was  a  member  of  the  parish.  Mr. 
Willey  resigned  after  some  months'  service  and  became  rector  of 
St.  John's,  Bridgeport,  where  he  died. 

The  Rev.  John  Eaton  Smith  was  assistant  from  early  in  1862 
to  October,  1864.  Not  long  after  this  he  became  rector  of  the 
Memorial  church  at  Westport  and  died  there.  He  was  succeeded 
for  a  short  time  by  the  Rev.  C.  W.  Chandler. 

The  Rev.  A.  Floridus  Steele  was  assistant  from  Easter,  1865, 

59 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

to  January,  1868.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Steele,  a 
native  of  Waterbury,  and  Clara  Brewster,  his  wife,  who  was  a 
descendant  of  Elder  Brewster,  one  of  the  Plymouth  "pilgrims." 
He  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Johns  of  Maryland  in  May, 
1861,  and  became  assistant  to  the  Rev.  B.  Leacock,  Harrisburg, 
Penn.,  in  September  following.  He  was  ordained  priest  by  Bishop 
Stevens,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  May,  1863.  He  went  from  Water- 
bury  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  assistant  at  St.  Paul's. 
From  there,  in  1869,  he  went  as  rector  to  St.  Mark's,  Washington, 
D.  C.,  where  he  died,  August  28,  1893. 

The  Rev.  Francis  T.  Russell,  D.D.  (Hobart,  1894),  became 
assistant  rector  in  March,  1868,  and  resigned  in  August,  1876,  to 
become  rector  of  St.  Margaret's  school.  He  continued  to  render 
frequent  assistance  both  in  St.  John's  and  Trinity  parishes  and 
frequently  conducted  the  service  at  St.  Paul's,  Waterville.  He 
was  born  in  Boston,  June  10,  1828,  has  been  professor  of  Rhetoric 
at  Hobart,  Berkeley  and  General  Theological  Seminary.  He  is 
at  present  living  with  his  son  Huntley  Russell  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  but  still  retains  the  office  of  rector  of  St.  Margaret's. 

The  Rev.  Joel  Foote  Bingham,  D.D.,  became  assistant  rector 
in  February,  1876.  When  he  succeeded  Dr.  Clark  as  rector 
the  Rev.  Victor  C.  Smith  became  assistant,  and  held  that  posi- 
tion until  May,  1878.  The  Rev.  John  H.  White  was  assistant 
from  that  time  until  November  1,  1878,  when  he  became  rector 
of  Grace  church,  Saybrook.  From  there  he  went  to  Saint  Paul, 
Minn.,  and  later  became  dean  of  the  Theological  school  at  Fari- 
bault,  and  in  1895  was  elected  bishop  of  Indiana.  Mr.  White 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Rob  Roy  McGregor  McNulty,  who, 
as  already  stated,  was  elected  rector  on  Dr.  Bingham's  resignation. 

The  Rev.  Melville  K.  Bailey,  an  assistant  at  St.  Margaret's 
school,  who  had  served  as  lay-reader  before  his  ordination,  be- 
came assistant  in  the  spring  of  1883,  and  resigned  at  Easter,  1885, 
to  take  charge  of  Trinity  church,  Branford.  He  went  from  there 
to  Torrington,  but  is  now  one  of  the  missionary  assistants  of 
Grace  church,  in  New  York  city. 

The  Rev.  S.  R.  Holden  became  assistant  in  1885,  and  resigned 
to  take  a  school  in  Colorado,  in  the  summer  of  1887. 


REV.  FBAXCIS  T.  RUSSELL,  D.D. 


THE  NEW  ERA. 

The  Rev.  John  H.  McCrackan  became  assistant  in  September, 
1891.  The  assistant  has  usually  had  charge  of  the  Water ville 
chapel,  which  under  Mr.  McCrackan's  management  became  quite 
prosperous.  He  resigned  in  November,  1894,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  mostly  in  Europe,  serving  as  Chaplain  of  the  American 
Chapel  at  Rome  and  several  other  points.  He  died  in  Germany 
in  -  -  1906. 

The  Rev.  J.  N.  Lewis,  Jr.,  as  has  been  said,  became  rector  in 
1901.  His  first  assistant  was  the  Rev.  Martin  A.  Barnes,  who 
was  born  in  Plymouth,  Dec.  20,  1875,  educated  at  Hillhouse  School, 
New  Haven,  and  St.  Stephens  College,  Annandale,  N.  Y.,  and 
graduated  at  the  Virginia  Theological  Seminary  at  Alexandria  in 
1902  and  came  directly  to  St.  John's,  which  he  left  in  March,  1905, 
to  accept  a  call  at  Fairmount,  W.  Va. 

His  successor,  Rev.  Jacob  Albert  Biddle  was  born  Dec.  24, 
1845,  at  Rochester,  Stark  Co.,  Ohio,  graduated  at  Oberlin  College 
1870,  President  of  Philomath  College,  Oregon,  1871-2.  B.  D. 
Yale,  1875.  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Milford,  Conn., 
1875-80.  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Oswego,  N.  Y., 
1880-83.  Off  duty  from  illness  1883-86.  Chief  Clerk,  Connecti- 
cut Labor  Bureau,  1886-88.  Pastor  Congregational  Church, 
South  Norwalk,  1888-1891.  Confirmed  in  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  by  Bishop  Barker  at  Grand  Junction,  Col.,  March 
1893.  Ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Williams  at  Middletown, 
May,  1893,  appointed  rector  of  St.  Mary's,  South  Manchester, 
August  24,  1893,  served  until  June,  1903.  Ordained  priest  by 
Bishop  Williams,  June,  1894.  Rector  Grace  Church,  New  Haven, 
September,  1903,  to  June,  1904.  In  Europe  some  months  and 
came  to  Waterbury,  March,  1905.  Took  charge  of  Memorial 
Church,  North  Brookfield,  Mass.,  June,  1905. 

The  Rev.  Royal  Ransom  Miller  came  to  St.  John's  July  5,  1905. 
He  was  born  at  Scottsville,  N.  Y.,  May  28,  1873,  graduated  at 
Harvard,  1899.  Studied  Theology  at  Cambridge  and  General 
Theological  Seminary  in  New  York.  Ordained  Deacon  June  7, 
1905.  Left  St.  John's  on  account  of  his  health  February  2,  1906. 

Rev.  Charles  Taber  Hall  became  assistant  July  1,  1906.  He 
was  born  in  Chelsea,  Mass.,  July  18,  1880,  prepared  for  college  at 

61 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Everett  High  School  and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in 
1903,  and  at  Berkeley  Divinity  School  in  1906;  ordained  at  Trinity 
Church,  Middletown,  June  6,  1906. 

The  following  persons,  born  or  in  part  educated  here,  have 
become  Episcopal  clergymen  elsewhere.  The  list  is  probably 
incomplete. 

Rev.  Alanson  W.  Welton,  b.  1790  (son  of  Titus  and  Mary 
(Hickox)  Welton,  first  resident  Episcopal  clergyman  of  Detroit, 
Mich.,  where  he  died  September  28,  1822.  There  is  a  stained  glass 
window  to  his  memory  in  St.  Paul's  Church.  He  was  educated 
at  Cheshire  Academy  (Letter  from  Rev.  X.  A.  Welton,  May  27, 
1873). 

James  Nichols,  son  of  James  Nichols,  b.  December,  1748, 
graduated  Yale,  1771.  Went  to  England  for  ordination.  Settled 
awhile  at  Plymouth  and  Bristol,  removed  to  Litchfield  and  Salis- 
bury, later  to  Vermont;  died  at  Stafford,  N.  Y.,  June,  1829. 

Elias  Scovill,  the  third  son  of  the  Rev.  James  Scovil,  was  born 
in  1770.  He  succeeded  his  father  as  rector  of  Trinity  Church, 
Kingston,  N.  B.,  and  died  there,  February  10,  1841. 

Joseph  Davis  Welton,  son  of  Richard  Welton,  was  baptized 
June  1,  1783.  He  was  ordained  deacon  December  18,  1808,  and 
priest  December  23,  1810.  He  preached  at  Woodbury  and  at 
Easton.  He  was  compelled  by  illness  to  give  up  preaching,  but 
taught  school  for  a  while,  and  died  at  Waterbury,  January  16, 
1825. 

Ransom  Warner,  son  of  Obadiah  Warner,  was  born  May  6, 
1795.  He  was  ordained  deacon  December  29,  1822,  and  priest 
November  4, 1823.  He  was  for  many  years  rector  of  St.  Andrew's, 
Bloomfield,  and  died  there  June  18,  1856. 

Anson  Clark,  son  of  John  and  Mille  (Munson)  Clark,  was  born 
in  Waterbury,  December  10,  1806.  He  entered  Kenyon  college 
in  the  class  of  1836,  but  at  the  close  of  his  Sophomore  year  entered 
the  Theological  seminary  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio.  He  was  rector 
for  several  parishes  in  Ohio  and  Illinois. 

The  Rev.  Herman  Munson  Clark,  born  August  29,  1789.  I 
have  no  record  of  his  services,  which  I  think,  were  in  Ohio. 

George  Jarvis  Geer,  second  son  of  the  Rev.  Alpheus  Geer,  was 

62 


THE  NEW  ^ 

born  here  in  1820;  graduated  at  Trinity  College,  1842.  He  was 
ordained  deacon  June  29,  1845.  He  was  rector  of  a  church  in 
New  York  city,  where  he  died  March  16,  1884. 

Abram  Joseph  Warner,  youngest  son  of  Ard  Warner,  was 
born  July  1,  1821.  He  graduated  at  Trinity  in  1842,  and  was 
tutor  in  Jubilee  college  from  1842  to  1845.  He  has  since  been 
rector  of  several  churches  at  the  West,  and  is  now  residing  at 
Angelica,  N.  Y. 

The  Rev.  William  Augustus  Hitchcock,  D.D.,  was  the  second 
son  of  William  Rufus  and  Mary  (Hull)  Hitchcock,  and  was  born 
January  29,  1834.  He  graduated  at  Trinity  College,  1854.  He 
graduated  at  the  Berkeley  Divinity  school  in  1857,  and  was  chap- 
lain in  the  United  States  Navy  for  five  years.  He  was  afterwards 
rector  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  at  Batavia,  N.  Y., 
and  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  has  several  times  represented  his  dio- 
cese in  the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  He  died  in  New  York  from  the  effect  of  an  injury  re- 
ceived on  the  railroad,  February  10,  1898. 

Charles  C.  Coerr  was  born  at  Woodbury,  August  12,  1848. 
He  was  a  student  of  the  Yale  Medical  school  in  1867,  but  decided 
to  become  a  candidate  for  orders,  and  graduated  from  the  Berkeley 
Divinity  school  in  1871.  From  that  time  until  1882  he  was  con- 
nected with  parishes  in  Brooklyn,  Binghamton,  Whitney's  Point, 
where  he  was  ordained  deacon  December  20,  1871,  by  Bishop 
Huntington,  at  Morris,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  ordained  priest 
March  18, 1873,  by  Bishop  Doane,  and  at  Shakopee  and  Rochester, 
Minn.  From  1878  to  1882  he  was  secretary  of  the  Minnesota 
diocese.  Since  then  his  parishes  have  been  Warsaw  and  Pal- 
myra, N.  Y.,  and  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  Renovo,  Perm.,  and  is  now 
(1906)  at  Marshall,  Tex. 

Frederick  R.  Sanford,  son  of  Rufus  B.  Sanford,  was  ordained 
deacon  June  1,  1881,  and  priest  June  23,  1882.  He  has  been 
rector  at  East  Haddam,  at  Warehouse  Point  and  in  California, 
at  St.  Paul's,  Riverside,  Conn.,  and  is  now  at  St.  John's,  North 
Haven. 


63 


CHAPTER    IV. 

ADDITIONAL  MEMORANDA. 

*"  I  SHE  ecclesiastical  corporations  of  Connecticut  were  modelled 
on  Congregational  forms,  and  the  societies  of  other  denomi- 
nations were  created  by  giving  them  similar  powers.  As  a 
consequence  the  governing  officers  of  a  society  were  called  the 
society's  committee.  Some  of  the  early  records  of  St.  John's 
parish  speak  of  meetings  of  the  "vestry,"  but  the  designation  of 
vestrymen  appears  first  in  1831,  and  does  not  appear  again  until 
1838,  when  it  was  voted  "to  appoint  two  wardens  and  five  vestry- 
men, including  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  that  the  rector 
should  be  chairman  of  the  vestry  and  parish  meetings."  It  was 
not,  however,  Dr.  Clark's  custom  to  attend  these  meetings,  unless 
some  special  business  required  it,  nor  did  he  then  preside.  In  1878 
an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  authorizing  the  Diocesan  Con- 
vention to  regulate  the  organization  of  parishes,  and  a  canon  was 
adopted  by  the  Convention,  making  the  rector  the  presiding 
officer. 

April  13,  1868,  this  parish  adopted  the  following  rules: 

Whereas  it  is  desirable  that  changes  should  from  time  to  time 
be  made  in  the  members  of  the  Vestry  so  that  a  greater  number  of 
persons  may  become  familiar  with  and  interested  in  the  man- 
agement of  its  affairs,  and  whereas  it  is  also  desirable  that  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  Vestrymen  should  be  continued  in  office  from 
year  to  year  so  that  the  Vestry  may  always  contain  persons  of 
experience  in  the  transaction  of  its  business,  therefore,  Resolved, 
that  hereafter  and  until  otherwise  ordered  we  will  adopt  the 
following  rules,  viz: 

1.  The  Vestry  shall  consist  of  fourteen  persons  for  this  year, 
and  hereafter  of  twelve  persons. 

2.  Those  persons  chosen  at  the  present  meeting  shall   be 
divided  by  lots  into  three  classes;  the  first  class  to  consist  of  six 

64 


ADDITIONAL  MEMORANDA. 

for  the  purpose  of  complying  with  aforesaid  rule,  and  the  other 
classes  of  four  each. 

3.  The  first  class  shall  not  be  eligible  to  re-election  in  1876. 
The  second  class  shall  not  be  eligible  in  1877  except  as  herein- 
after provided. 

4.  No  person  shall  hereafter  be  eligible  for  more  than  three 
successive  years,  unless  for  any  reason  more  than  four  new  mem- 
bers may  be  required. 

This  rule  is  still  in  force  and  at  each  annual  election  the  four 
members  who  have  served  for  three  years  are  dropped  from  the 
Vestry  and  new  members  elected  in  their  place. 

Prior  to  1833  the  expenses  of  the  parish  were  met  by  a  tax  laid 
on  a  list  made  from  the  grand  list  of  the  town.  In  October  of 
that  year  a  vote  was  passed  to  sell  the  slips,  in  order  to  raise  money 
to  defray  ordinary  expenses,  and  this  course  has  since  been  adopted 
with  the  exception  that  in  1870,  while  the  temporary  chapel  was 
occupied,  the  plan  of  free  sittings  and  voluntary  contributions 
was  tried  for  six  months,  but  it  was  not  found  satisfactory. 

In  1851  St.  Paul's  chapel  at  Waterville  was  consecrated  as  a 
chapel  of  St.  John's  church.  A  successful  mission  had  been  sus- 
tained there  for  some  years,  but  it  had  outgrown  its  accommoda- 
tions. A  flourishing  Sunday  school  was  in  progress,  and  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  build  a  chapel.  For  some  time  it  was  in 
charge  of  an  assistant  minister,  Rev.  Charles  G.  Acly,  who  resided 
there.  In  June,  1893,  the  anniversary  of  the  establishment  of  the 
chapel  was  celebrated  with  special  services,  a  report  of  which  was 
published  in  a  handsome  pamphlet  of  38  pages.  A  brief  account 
of  its  change  to  a  parish  is  given  in  another  chapter  under  the  head 
of  St.  Paul's,  Waterville. 

On  Easter  Monday,  1852,  the  vestry  by  vote  of  the  parish  was 
authorized  to  light  the  church  with  gas.  Prior  to  that  time 
there  was  no  gas  for  lighting  purposes  in  the  town,  oil  lamps  being 
used.  So  long  as  the  old  church  (of  1795)  stood,  it  was  the  cus- 
tom to  illuminate  it  on  Christmas  eve  by  placing  a  candle  at  every 
alternate  pane  of  glass.  The  effect,  especially  when  the  ground 
was  white  with  snow,  was  brilliant  and  beautiful;  but  the  fasten- 

65 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

ing  to  the  windows  of  the  wooden  strips  on  which  the  candles  were 
placed  injured  the  church,  and  the  tallow  made  a  great  many 
grease  spots.  When  the  new  church  was  built  the  custom  was 
abandoned,  to  the  great  regret  of  many  children  and  some  grown 
people.* 

With  occasional  breaks,  "tithingmen"  were  usually  elected 
until  1849.  Their  duties  were  supposed  to  be  to  preserve  order 
in  the  galleries,  but  the  office  had  been  a  sinecure  for  a  long  time. 
The  inference  is — although  we  are  little  accustomed  to  think  so — 
that  there  had  been  a  gradual  improvement  in  behavior  among 
the  children  who  attended  church.  It  should,  however,  be  noted 
that  in  the  early  days  it  was  the  custom  for  all  the  children,  after 
they  were  eight  or  ten  years  of  age,  to  sit  in  the  gallery,  and  prob- 
ably the  temptation  to  disorder  was  greater  than  when  it  became 
the  custom  for  most  of  them  to  sit  with  their  parents. 

SUNDAY   SCHOOL. 

Just  when  the  Sunday  School  was  established  does  not  appear 
from  any  known  record.  Mr.  Barlow  had  one,  as  Mrs.  Marcia 
Warner  Bolster  remembers,  when  he  and  William  H.  Scovill, 
William  R.  Hitchcock,  Misses  Caroline  and  Mary  Scovill  were  in 
the  habit  of  coming  to  Waterville  to  hold  a  Sunday  School  in 
some  of  the  private  houses. 

In  1869,  Dr.  Clark  held  what  he  called  the  34th  Anniversary 
of  the  Sunday  School,  but  this  probably  meant  the  34th  public 
anniversary. 

The  Sunday  School  did  not  begin  to  play  a  conspicuous  part 
in  church  work  until  after  Dr.  Clark's  arrival. 

In  his  plan  it  took  the  foremost  place.  Every  child  was  ex- 
pected to  be  a  pupil  and  all  persons  who  were  so  situated  as  to 
attend  it  were  expected  to  act  as  teachers.  The  Doctor  himself 


*"Aunt  Sue"  Bronson,  widow  of  Ezra  Bronson,  Esq.,  was  an  ardent  churchwoman, 
but  she  thought  "Christmas  greens"  savored  of  popery.  The  boys  used  to  amuse  them- 
selves by  putting  the  rails  of  her  pew  full  of  them,  boring  holes  for  the  purpose  in  the  rails 
of  the  pews  with  gimlets,  and  she  would  not  take  her  seat  until  she  had  pulled  them  all  out 
and  thrown  them  on  the  floor.  She  lived  to  be  93  and  was  very  active  almost  to  the  day 
of  her  death.  Her  house  was  near  the  church,  directly  on  the  street  in  front  of  the  present 
Kendrick  block. 

66 


ADDITIONAL  MEMORANDA. 

was  always  superintendent.  The  instruction  was  along  the  pre- 
scribed lines,  but  in  many  cases  the  inspiring  influence  of  intelli- 
gent men  and  women  was  brought  to  bear  on  classes  and  on 
individuals  to  their  lasting  benefit. 

There  was  in  those  days  a  county  clerical  meeting  held  from 
time  to  time,  several  times  in  a  year  at  different  places,  corre- 
sponding somewhat  to  our  present  Archdeaconry  meetings. 
Sometime  in  the  fall  one  was  usually  held  in  Waterbury,  and  Dr. 
Clark  so  arranged  it  that  the  Anniversary  of  the  Sunday  School 
should  be  held  at  the  same  time.  The  whole  afternoon  was  given 
up  to  it.  The  children  assembled  in  the  church  and  marched, 
with  the  county  clergy  at  their  head,  to  some  public  hall,  where 
hymns  were  sung,  speeches  made,  and  last  but  best  of  all,  cakes, 
candies,  oranges  and  various  small  gifts  that  delight  children  were 
freely  distributed;  also  the  names  of  those  who  had  not  missed  any 
Sunday  School  exercise  during  the  year  were  publicly  read.  It 
was  the  great  day  of  the  year  for  the  Sunday  School  children  and 
it  certainly  was  not  the  smallest  day  for  Dr.  Clark.  On  these 
occasions  he  was  ubiquitous.  He  knew  every  child.  He  had 
something  to  say  to  each,  and  it  had  a  personal  and  peculiar  tone 
so  that  each  child  felt  that  he  or  she  was  known  and  reckoned  on 
as  part  of  the  organization. 

Mr.  Nelson  J.  Welton  says  he  was  eight  years  old  when  Dr. 
Clark  came  here  and  had  been  in  the  Sunday  School  for  two  or 
three  years;  that  the  Doctor  said  to  him,  "  Now  you  know  all  these 
people  and  I  want  you  to  take  charge  of  the  distribution  of  this 
magazine."  Of  course  he  felt  at  once  that  he  was  an  impor- 
tant factor  in  the  establishment.  This  is  so  characteristic  of 
Dr.  Clark's  method  that  I  have  thought  it  worthy  of  preserva- 
tion. 

Since  Dr.  Clark's  day  the  Sunday  School  has  remained  a  promi- 
nent feature  in  the  Church's  work,  but  the  growth  of  the  city 
and  the  change  of  customs  has  rendered  this  great  show  day  of 
the  Sunday  School  year  impracticable.  At  present  it  claims  to 
be  the  largest  organization  of  the  sort  in  the  Diocese,  and  as 
already  noted,  Dr.  Clark  made  the  same  claim  for  it  twenty  years 
ago.  The  Sunday  School  is  divided  into  three  sections;  there 

67 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

being  a  primary  department;  each  section  has  a  superintendent. 
The  present  number  of  pupils  is  550. 

The  Life  of  Archbishop  Cramner  by  the  Rev.  John  N.  Norton, 
D.D.,  rector  of  Ascension  Church,  Frankfort,  Ky.;  N.  Y.  General 
Protestant  Episcopal  Sunday  School  Union  and  Church  Book 
Society,  1863,  is  stated  on  page  5  as  published  through  the 
offerings  of  the  Sunday  School  of  St.  John's  Church,  Waterbury, 
Conn.  This  is  evidently  Dr.  Clark's  work,  but  I  do  not  know  the 
history  of  it. 

The  Sewing  school  of  St.  John's  parish  was  organized  about  the 
year  1864,  Mrs.  Anna  G.  Clark  and  Mrs.  William  Lamb  being  the 
ladies  most  active  in  its  formation.  In  its  first  corps  of  teachers 
were  Miss  Ann  Ophelia  Sperry,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith,  Misses 
Susan  Cook,  Etta  Scovill,  and  Charlotte  B.  Merriman.  Until 
the  end  of  1868,  the  school  was  carried  on  in  the  chapel  of  the 
old  church,  afterwards  in  the  upper  chapel  of  the  present  church, 
and  since  1890  in  the  assembly  room  of  the  parish  house. 

Mrs.  Clark  was  its  superintendent  until  the  autumn  of  1880, 
when  Miss  Alice  Kingsbury  took  charge  of  it  for  a  year.  Since 
that  time  it  has  been  conducted  by  Misses  Helen  Merriman,  Mary 
Barlow  and  Alice  Field.  During  the  last  year  there  were  143 
names  on  the  record  of  children  who  attended  the  school,  and 
there  was  an  average  attendance  of  over  sixty.  The  expenses  of 
the  school  are  met  by  offertories  taken  in  the  church.  Within 
the  last  year,  1906,  this  school  has  been  united  with  a  larger  and 
more  general  organization,  which  is  held  in  the  Leavenworth  Hall 
on  Holmes  avenue  and  known  as  the  Industrial  School. 

The  "Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew"  was  established  on  St. 
Andrew's  day,  1883.  Chapter  No.  313  was  organized  in  St. 
John's  church  on  March  15,  1889,  under  the  name  of  St.  John's 
chapter.  Eight  young  men  were  enrolled  by  the  rector  at  that 
time,  on  their  taking  the  vows  of  the  brotherhood.  The  active 
members  numbered  at  one  time  sixteen. 

The  order  of  "Daughters  of  the  King"  came  into  being  in 
New  York  city  in  1885.* 


*This  order,  which  is  confined  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  must  he  distin- 
guished from  the  order  of  "King's  Daughters,"  which  has  circles  in  most  of  the  other 
Protestant  denominations. 

68 


ADDITIONAL  MEMORANDA. 

St.  John's  chapter  was  organized  in  May,  1891,  through  the 
influence  of  a  member  of  the  order  residing  in  New  Haven.  Thirty- 
nine  members  have  been  invested  with  the  badge  of  the  order, — 
a  cross,  bearing  the  inscription,  "  Magnanimiter  crucem  sustine." 

The  Diocesan  Conventions  for  1821,  1851,  1858,  1876  and  1897 
were  held  in  Waterbury,  also  a  convention  of  lay  delegates  in  1788. 

In  April,  1872,  John  H.  Sandland,  after  forty-two  years  of 
continuous  service,  resigned  his  position  as  the  leading  tenor 
singer,  and  the  rectors  and  the  parish  united  in  a  testimonial  in 
recognition  of  his  long  and  faithful  service. 

On  December  29,  1872,  Theodore  Ives  Driggs,  after  serving  as 
organist  for  twenty-nine  years  tendered  his  resignation  on  account 
of  physical  infirmity,  and  resolutions  were  passed  recognizing 
his  long  and  useful  service.  Charles  H.  Smith  was  appointed  in 
his  place,  but  resigned  September  13,  1874,  on  account  of  illness, 
and  died  soon  after.  After  a  brief  term  of  service  by  Charles  H. 
Hendee,  Mr.  Driggs  having  in  a  measure  regained  his  health 
returned  to  his  position,  and  retained  it  until  about  a  year  before 
his  death. 

Mr.  Driggs  deserves  something  more  than  a  casual  mention  in  the  History 
of  St.  John's  Church.  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Asa  Johnson  Driggs  of  Cheshire, 
and  was  born  there  October  25,  1829.  His  mother  died  soon  after,  and  his 
father,  leaving  home  for  a  prolonged  absence,  placed  him  with  Mr.  Adna 
Whitin,  of  Whitin's  Basin  (now  Plainville),  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
twelve  years  old.  Mr.  Whitin  owned  boats  on  the  canal  and  one  of  Mr.  Driggs 
early  recollections  is  of  going  to  New  Haven  on  the  boat  with  the  Amistad 
negroes  when  they  were  being  returned  under  decision  of  the  U.  S.  Sup.  Court. 
He  particularly  remembered  Cinquez,  the  leader,  with  his  filed  teeth. 

When  Mr.  Driggs  was  twelve  his  father  returned  and  took  him  home 
where  he  fitted  for  college  and  graduated  at  Trinity  hi  1848,  before  he  attained 
the  age  of  nineteen.  The  same  year  he  came  to  Waterbury  as  assistant  to 
Charles  Fabrique  in  the  High  School  and  remained  until  1852,  when  he  relin- 
quished the  place  on  account  of  some  trouble  with  his  throat  and  took  a  place 
as  bookkeeper  with  Abbott  &  Wardwell. 

In  September,  1855,  he  entered  the  employment  of  the  American  Pin 
Company  and  as  bookkeeper,  secretary  and  president  he  remained  with  the 
Company  until  his  death.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  educational  matters 
and  the  schools  of  the  town  are  largely  indebted  to  bis  energy  and  ability. 

He  was  secretary  and  trustee  of  St.  Margaret's  School  for  girls  from  its 
organization  until  his  death.  He  was  also  a  member  and  secretary  of  the 

69 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Board  of  Agents  of  the  Bronson  Library.  During  the  greater  portion  of  this 
whole  time  he  was  organist  and  musical  manager  for  St.  John's,  a  teacher  in 
the  Sunday  School  and  for  many  years  agent  of  the  parish  and  vestry.  He 
died  June  28,  1893. 

On  March  29,  1875,  John  W.  Smith,  after  a  service  of  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  as  leading  singer,  resigned  his  position. 
His  prolonged,  gratuitous  and  faithful  services  were  recognized 
in  suitable  resolutions.  He  died  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  5,  1905* 


70 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    LAITY. 

ON  looking  over  what  has  already  been  written  this  history 
appears,  mainly,  to  be  an  account  of  the  clergymen  who 
have  officiated  here  and  of  the  various  church  buildings 
which  have  been  erected  and  of  the  church  lands  which  have 
been  bought  and  sold. 

It  would  seem  as  if  more  should  be  said  of  the  people  who  con- 
stituted the  church  and  for  whose  training  in  grace  and  religious 
intelligence  and  for  whose  moral  uplifting  the  church  was  founded, 
and  by  whose  labors  and  prayers  and  contributions  it  has  been 
sustained. 

The  church  records  do  not  show  much  of  the  church  life.  They 
are  the  bald  records  of  votes  taken  to  render  action  legal.  They 
show  nothing  of  the  private  and  public  discussions  of  which  these 
votes  were  the  outcome;  nor  of  the  power  of  the  personal  equation, 
of  the  yielding  of  preferences,  of  submitting  to  the  inevitable,  of 
afflictions  and  hopes  and  prejudices,  jealousies,  spites  and  hatreds, 
which  swelter  and  ferment  in  all  communities  and  finally  all 
simmer  themselves  down  into  a  well  rounded  "whereas"  or 
"forasmuch"  or  "be  it  considered"  which  some  shrewd  brother 
has  drawn  up  as  representing  as  near  as  may  be  a  consensus  of 
opinion.  All  these  other  things,  if  we  are  to  have  them  at  all, 
must  be  constructed  from  detached  fragments  and  by  imagination. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  church,  agriculture  was  the  chief 
occupation  and  main  dependence  of  the  people  and  their  property 
was  mostly  in  land.  Waterbury  was  a  rather  poor  township  of 
land  and  the  people  were  relatively  poor.  Watertown  and  Ply- 
mouth were  both  better  townships  than  Waterbury. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Clark,  in  a  history  of  St.  John's  which  he  prepared  to  read 
before  the  New  Haven  County  Convention,  held  at  West  Haven,  December, 
1863,  says,  "the  place  itself,  it  should  be  remembered,  though  now  a  thriving 
city,  was  at  one  period,  if  tradition  speaks  truly,  lower  than  either  of  the  six 

71 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

towns  colonized  from  it,  in  business,  talent,  credit  and  morals.  The  venerable 
Dr.  Holcomb,  who  has  been  for  more  than  fifty  years  a  resident  of  Watertown 
has  told  me  with  a  coolness  and  appearance  that  could  admit  of  no  question 
that  he  could  remember  the  time  when  no  prudent  farmer  in  Watertown 
would  trust  any  man  in  Waterbury  the  price  of  a  load  of  hay  over  night;  and 
aged  men  in  Wolcott  have  assured  me  that  at  one  time  Wolcott  would  have 
felt  disgraced  had  Waterbury  been  placed  hi  favorable  comparison  with  her 
"in  any  of  the  elements  of  municipal  dignity  and  prosperity." 

The  late  Judge  Holbrook  Curtis  of  Watertown  also  told  me  that  in  his 
early  practice  the  only  way  to  get  anything  out  of  a  Waterbury  creditor  was 
to  get  the  deputy  sheriff  to  take  a  receipt  for  property  attached  and  then  sue 
the  sheriff  on  the  bond;  and  he  named  one  young  man  who  was  ambitious  to 
serve  as  deputy  sheriff  who  spent  a  very  handsome  inheritance  in  paying 
other  people's  debts. 

Of  course  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  above  remarks  applied  with 
strictness  to  every  resident  in  Waterbury,  but  there  was  sufficient  truth  in  the 
general  statement  to  render  it  not  open  to  the  charge  of  malicious  slander, 
although  perhaps  the  charge  of  a  healthy  jealousy  might  have  held. 

Probably  the  best  tract  of  land  in  Waterbury  was  on  Buckshill 
and  here  were  a  few  of  the  most  thriving  citizens.  Still,  for  some 
reason  which  is  not  fully  clear  to  me,  the  village,  the  center,  seems 
always  to  have  held  a  social  pre-eminence. 

Probably  it  was  because  this  was  the  residence  of  the  pro- 
fessional men;  the  clergy,  doctors  and  lawyers,  also  the  merchants 
— people  who  had  more  ready  money  than  the  farmers,  although 
their  property  may  not  have  been  so  valuable;  perhaps  the  greater 
educational  facilities  of  the  village  had  an  influence. 

More  of  the  people  of  superior  intellect  were  also  gathered  here, 
although  others  who  were  their  equals  were  scattered  in  the 
outlying  districts.  But  Parsons  Southmayd  and  Leavenworth, 
who  were  over  the  Congregational  Church  for  one  hundred  years, 
and  Parson  Scovill,  who  was  over  the  Episcopal  Church  for  twen- 
ty-six years;  Daniel  Southmayd,  son  of  the  parson,  who  though 
he  died  young  had  achieved  a  sterling  reputation,  and  Judge 
Hopkins,  who  was  judge  of  the  County  Court,  and  Dr.  Baldwin, 
who  was  a  man  of  ability  and  who  married  a  daughter  of  Parson 
Leavenworth,  were  all  men  of  mark,  men  of  learning,  acquainted 
with  and  known  to  the  outside  world,  and  whose  families  were 
brought  in  contact  with  the  cultivated  people  of  the  State. 

72 


THE  LAITY. 

It  may  be  that  we  can  find  here  sufficient  reason  for  this  social 
pre-eminence.  Now  aside  from  Parson  Scovil  and  his  family  and 
Captain  George  Nichols  and  his  family,  there  do  not  appear  to 
have  been  any  people  of  social  prominence,  in  the  village,  connected 
with  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  John  Cossitt  was  a  worthy  man  living  in  the  village  and  a 
prominent  Episcopalian,  but  not  prominent  socially.  I  think  he 
went  West  about  1820. 

James  Brown  has  already  been  mentioned.  The  Gunns,  who 
are  noticed  as  having  a  child  baptized  in  1734,  lived  at  Gunntown, 
the  western  part  of  Naugatuck.  They  must  have  been  Episco- 
palians for  sometime,  possibly  were  before  James  Brown's  advent. 
We  have  no  information  in  regard  to  this.  The  Gunns  were 
forehanded  people  and  large  landholders,  but  not  socially  promi- 
nent. They  were  people  who  had  the  courage  of  their  convictions 
and  were  mostly  tories  during  the  Revolution. 

Captain  John  Welton  and  Richard  Welton  of  Buckshill  have 
already  been  spoken  of  and  there  were  several  other  families  of 
Weltons  in  that  vicinity  who  were  highly  respected  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  although  not  especially  active.  There 
were  several  families  of  the  name  of  Warner  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town,  some  of  whom  were  quite  active  in  church  matters. 
Several  of  these  moved  to  Ohio  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  cen- 
tury. Mr.  Edmund  Austin  of  East  Farms  was  a  highly  respected 
farmer  and  a  churchman.  He  had  a  number  of  daughters,  one 
of  whom  married  Rev.  Ransom  Warner  of  Simsbury,  whose  grand- 
daughter is  the  wife  of  Bishop  Woodcock  of  Louisville,  Ky. 
Another  daughter  married  Samuel  W.  Hall,  who  gave  the  money 
which  led  to  the  founding  of  Trinity  Church. 

These  people  all  attended  church  regularly,  many  of  them 
driving  several  miles  (or  sometimes  walking)  in  order  to  do  so 
(there  were  usually  three  services  each  Sunday  besides  Sunday 
School);  and  they  trained  their  children  to  the  same  habit  of 
attending  services. 

Elias  Clark  of  Buckshill  and  Humphrey  Nichols  of  Horse  Pas- 
ture were  very  regular  church  goers  and  represented  a  class  of 
people  which  in  these  days  seldom  go  to  church  anywhere. 

73 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Perhaps  Mr.  Barber  exerted  as  strong  an  influence  in  the  town 
as  any  clergyman  about  that  period,  but  it  was  through  his  school, 
which  was  excellent  and  was  attended  by  children  of  all  denomi- 
nations. Although  a  very  intense  churchman,  I  never  heard  of 
any  attempt  on  his  part  to  proselyte. 

For  many  years  prior  to  1830  very  little  change  had  taken 
place  in  the  population  of  the  town;  there  were  no  new  people  for 
a  clergyman  to  work  for  or  upon  except  as  the  children  grew  up. 
Now  and  then  some  man,  sometimes  three  or  four  men,  would 
dislike  the  clergyman  or  the  taxes  or  something  else  and  would 
leave  the  Congregational  Church  and  join  the  Episcopal;  now 
and  then  an  Episcopal  man  or  woman  would  marry  a  Congrega- 
tionalist  and  bring  him  or  her  into  the  Church.  The  late  Dr. 
Leonard  Bacon  of  New  Haven  said  "Anger  and  marriage  were 
always  converting  ordinances,"  and  it  is  very  true. 

About  1830  a  very  noticeable  change  began.  Mr.  William  H. 
Scovil,  a  grandson  of  the  Rev.  James  Scovil,  had  been  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  a  successful  merchant  in  North  Carolina.  He  returned 
to  Waterbury  in  1827.  He  was  not  only  a  zealous  churchman, 
but  he  was  an  active  worker  in  anything  in  which  he  took  an  inter- 
est. He  had  what  is  called  the  power  of  the  initiative.  His 
brother  Lampson  (J.  M.  L.)  was  a  man  of  much  energy,  although 
having  less  of  this  peculiar  power,  and  was  always  ready  to  assist 
William  in  his  plans  and  was  soon  aroused  to  an  active  interest 
in  church  matters. 

The  town  began  to  grow  and  the  church  began  to  grow.  A 
few  years  later,  Mr.  John  P.  Elton  and  Mr.  S.  M.  Buckingham 
came  here  from  Watertown  and  engaged  in  business.  They  took 
an  active  interest  in  church  work.  Mr.  Leonard  Platt,  educated 
as  a  Baptist  but  joining  the  Episcopal  Church,  was  immersed 
at  his  desire  by  Rev.  Mr.  Barlow. 

Dr.  Daniel  Porter  was  immersed  at  the  same  time.  This 
took  place  in  the  Naugatuck  river,  just  below  the  West  Main 
street  bridge.  Mr.  Platt  became  a  very  active  member  of  the 
church.  He  was  a  warden  and  often  acted  as  lay  reader  in  the 
absence  of  the  clergyman  and  was  very  efficient  in  all  church 
affairs. 

74 


THE  LAITY. 

•  Mr.  Austin  Steele  was  a  churchman  and  a  man  of  great  taste 
and  had  considerable  experience  in  building.  Soon  after  the 
new  church  began  to  be  talked  of  in  1847,  he  happened  upon  a 
large  lot  of  black  walnut  for  sale.  He  bought  the  whole  of  it 
and  the  church  was  finished  with  it.  He  also  had  an  eye  on  the 
construction  and  was  instrumental  in  getting  the  great  Chancel 
window  of  St.  John  writing  the  Apocalypse. 

It  was  mainly  these  men  who  built  the  church  of  1848,  the  first 
stone  church,  and  who  were  also  responsible  for  the  extensive 
alterations  and  improvements  of  the  old  church  in  1831  and  1837, 
and  this  brings  us  down  to  the  era  of  people  now  living. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  there  has  never  been  anything  in 
St.  John's  Church  like  a  church  quarrel.  Never  any  serious  dis- 
agreement on  any  subject,  whether  material,  doctrinal  or  liturgi- 
cal. They  have  all  been  of  one  mind.  When  Trinity  Church  was 
formed  all  were  agreed,  all  helped.  It  is  a  praiseworthy  fact 
in  the  church's  history. 

The  life  of  a  church  both  corporate  and  spiritual  is  largely 
dependent  on  its  female  members,  but  their  names  and  labors  are 
seldom  preserved  unless  it  may  be  in  the  evanescent  records  of 
temporary  organizations.  Still  year  by  year  their  power  for  good 
in  the  church  is  more  and  more  felt  and  they  are  making  for  them- 
selves a  name  which  may  be  capable  of  being  recorded. 

Of  women  of  this  sort  St.  John's  Church  had  its  full  share, 
but  we  can  only  quote  St.  Luke  and  say  "Of  honorable  women 
not  a  few." 


75 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MUSIC. 

AT  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  in  1761,  Ebenezer  Warner,  Samuel 
Brown,  Hezekiah  Brown,  Siba  Bronson  and  William  Scovil 
were  appointed  to  assist  in  tuning  the  psalms.  The  same 
persons  appear  to  have  been  continued  until  1773,  when  Isaac 
Benham  and  Ephraim  Warner  are  added,  some  of  the  others 
having  died  or  dropped  out;  they  are  then  spoken  of  as  "  Quoir- 
isters. "  Stephen  Welton  is  added  in  1780.  Thomas  Miles  Culver, 
in  1783,  and  John  Dowd  and  Thomas  Dixon,  in  1785,  Bennet 
Humiston,  in  1786,  Asa  Beach  and  Joseph  Tirrell,  in  1787— when 
they  are  called  "Choristers."  John  Clark,  Reuben  Prichard  and 
Azor  Bronson  are  added  in  1790,  Samuel  Welton,  in  1792,  and 
Herman  Bronson,  Abram  Hickox  and  Preserved  Hickox,  1793. 
John  Clark,  Jr.,  Obadiah  Warner  and  Henry  Benham,  in  1794, 
Preserved  Hickox  and  Seymour  Wilson  in  1795., 

In  1797  it  is  voted  to  pay  what  is  wanting  to  settle  with  Mr. 
Benham  for  singing  at  the  dedication. 

Nothing  more  appears  on  the  record  until  1811,  when  it  is  voted 
to  employ  some  suitable  person  to  teach  singing  at  an  expense  not 
to  exceed  twenty  dollars  and  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the  same. 

1828  it  is  voted  to  pay  Samuel  Cook  thirty  dollars  for  singing 
the  ensuing  year. 

Samuel  Cook  was  quite  a  musician;  he  led  the  choir  for  many 
years;  he  played  at  times,  the  tenor  viol,  bass  viol  and  double  bass. 

About  1836  a  singing  school  for  all  denominations  was  opened 
here  by  a  Mr.  Carter  from  somewhere  in  Litchfield  County.  He 
was  an  accomplished  teacher,  spending  much  effort  on  the  train- 
ing of  the  pupils  in  time  and  gradually  advancing  them  as  they 
seemed  to  show  ability. 

He  was  a  rigid  disciplinarian,  and  if  he  found  a  boy  misbe- 
having or  provokingly  inattentive,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  box  his 
ears  with  the  long,  old-fashioned  tune  book  in  a  way  that  would 
be  very  apt  to  impress  itself  on  a  boy's  memory. 

76 


MUSIC. 

In  1834  it  was  voted  to  appoint  a  committee  to  purchase  an 
organ  and  to  make  the  necessary  changes  (for  placing  it)  in  the 
gallery. 

1837,  January  28,  voted  to  contract  with  John  Rowley,  as 
organist,  and  John  Sandland,  Jr.,  as  chorister. 

Before  the  purchase  of  the  organ,  several  instruments,  as  the 
viols,  flutes,  clarinet  and  trombone  were  used  as  adjuncts  in 
the  choir  and  played  by  various  people.  Until  1892  the  choir 
was  a  mixed  choir  of  male  and  female  voices.  Elisha  Rice  was 
for  several  years  quite  prominent  in  the  choir,  frequently  assisting 
in  the  rehearsals  or  singing  schools,  as  they  were  called,  also  some- 
times leading  the  choir  on  Sunday.  There  was  a  Merriam  family, 
who  were  conspicuous  in  the  choir:  Joseph,  Abby,  afterwards  Mrs. 
John  H.  Sandland;  Mary  Ann,  afterwards  Mrs.  Charles  Perkins, 
and  Maria,  known  as  Miss  Brainard,  she  having  been  brought  up 
from  a  child  by  Mr.  Brainard  of  Farmington,  and  having  taken 
his  name.  She  is  still  living,  and  although  no  longer  a  resident 
of  Waterbury,  has  sung  in  the  choir  here  not  many  years  since. 
She  became  quite  distinguished  as  a  concert  singer  in  New  York. 

Almira  Hoadley  (afterwards  Mrs.  Nathan  Merrill),  was  a  lead- 
ing soprano  for  a  long  time  and  was  paid  a  salary.  She  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Emma  Hurlburt,  afterwards  Mrs.  George  L.  Townsend. 
She  was  a  salaried  singer  for  many  years,  receiving  at  one  time 
$400  a  year.  She  sang  in  St.  John's  until  Trinity  was  formed, 
and  sang  there  for  some  time.  John  W.  Smith  was  leading  basso 
for  twenty-five  years.  He  later  became  a  member  of  Trinity, 
but  I  think  gave  up  singing  before  he  left  St.  John's.  Miss  Ellen 
Monson  was  for  a  number  of  years  the  leading  contralto.  Theo- 
dore I.  Driggs  became  organist  in  1848,  and  although  occasionally 
obliged  to  suspend  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  was  practically 
the  manager  of  the  music  of  the  church  until  about  the  time  of  his 
death. 

At  one  time  a  quartette  consisting  of  John  W.  Smith,  bass; 
John  H.  Sandland,  tenor;  Mrs.  George  L.  Townsend,  soprano, 
and  Miss  Ellen  Monson,  contralto,  under  Mr.  Driggs's  leadership, 
was  regarded  by  good  judges  as  the  best  quartette  in  the  State. 

John  Henry  Wilcox,  afterward  a  distinguished  organist  in 
Boston,  and  Lewis  T.  Downes,  a  native  of  Waterbury,  and  for 

77 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

many  years  a  prominent  citizen  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  each  had 
charge  of  the  organ  for  a  while,  about  the  time  that  Mr.  Driggs 
came  here. 

In  1892,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rowland,  it  was 
decided  to  introduce  an  entire  male  choir,  the  soprano  and  alto 
being  carried  by  boys'  voices  and  all  the  choir  to  be  uniformly 
dressed  in  cassocks  and  cottas.  The  changes  were  reported  to 
the  vestry  January  18,  1893. 

About  the  same  time  the  parish  received  from  Mr.  H.  H.  Peck 
(although  for  some  years  the  donor  was  unknown)  the  gift  of  a  chan- 
cel organ.  This  organ,  built  by  Farrand  &  Votey,  was  placed  in 
the  north  gallery  with  a  console  in  front  of  the  chancel,  stalls 
being  placed  there  for  the  choir.  This  necessitated  taking  out 
two  rows  of  seats  from  the  body  of  the  church,  but  the  choir  seats 
accommodated  as  many  persons. 

Joseph  E.  Bartlett,  as  organist  took  charge  of  the  music.  He 
was  succeeded  by  William  H.  Minor,  who  is  still  in  charge.  A 
full  choir  consists  of  about  forty-two  members.  The  boys  are 
paid  five  cents  for  each  appearance,  whether  for  service  or  rehearsal, 
and  the  leading  singers,  bass  and  tenor,  are  paid  various  amounts, 
as  may  be  agreed  from  time  to  time,  the  whole  matter  being  in 
charge  of  a  committee  on  music  appointed  annually. 

At  the  last  parish  meeting  $2500  was  appropriated  for  music, 
also  the  Sunday  evening  offering.  As  late,  certainly,  as  1850, 
and  perhaps  later,  the  choir  might  be  considered  one  of  the  social 
functions  of  the  parish.  The  evening  rehearsals  were  attended 
by  the  young  men  and  the  young  women,  and  the  young  men 
saw  that  the  young  women  were  returned  in  safety  to  their  homes, 
and  the  rehearsals  were  quite  popular.  On  Sundays  the  choir  sat 
in  front  of  the  organ  in  the  gallery.  I  remember  once  when  we 
were  discussing  a  plan  for  a  new  church  and  the  question  was 
whether  to  have  a  gallery,  one  man  remarked,  "  If  it  hadn't  been 
for  the  gallery  I  should  not  have  been  in  the  church."  Another 
said,  "With  me,  it  was  rather  the  'gal '  than  the  'gallery',  but  the 
result  was  the  same. " 

I  do  not  know  how  such  affairs  are  managed  now.  Matters 
seem  to  progress  very  much  after  the  old  way;  they  no  longer  have 
the  singing  school  to  help  them — but  the  result  is  the  same. 

78 


CHAPTER  VII. 

TRUST  FUNDS. 

OLIVER  WELTON'S  gift,  February,  1744-5,  was  for  a  glebe. 
This  tract  of  land  was  subsequently  leased  for  990  years  and 
the  fund  appears  to  have  been  used  for  the  general  pur- 
poses of  the  church. 

John  Judd's  gift  of  six  and  three-quarter  acres  (April  19,  1745) 
was  for  a  glebe  for  the  use  of  said  church,  in  said  place,  forever. 
This  was  sold  in  1897  by  the  permission  of  the  Legislature  and  the 
proceeds  are  kept  separate  for  the  purposes  of  the  gift. 

Thomas  Barns's  gift  of  nine  acres  and  eighty  rods  (in  same 
deed  with  John  Judd)  was  leased  for  990  years  to  Reuben  Adams, 
April  19,  1784,  for  a  payment,  considered  doubtless  the  full  value 
of  the  land.  The  gift  seems  to  have  been  for  the  same  purpose 
as  John  Judd's  and  is  included  in  the  same  deed,  but  the  money  re- 
ceived, so  far  as  appears,  was  used  for  the  general  purposes  of  the 
church. 

The  deed  of  eight  acres  on  the  south  side  of  West  Main  Street 
from  the  Church  Company,  was  without  restriction. 

Mrs.  Cotton's  gift  of  $1,000  was  without  restriction. 

Charles  Scott's  gift  of  $5,000,  received  under  his  will  July  20, 
1894,  was  without  restriction,  but  is  kept  as  a  separate  fund. 
He  gave  the  same  amount  to  Trinity  Parish. 

May  20,  1903,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Burrall  gave  $5,000,  the  income 
to  be  used  for  repairs  or  improvements  in  the  church  or  rectory. 
This  is  kept  as  a  separate  fund. 

September  26,  1903,  Miss  Sarah  Merriman  left  $1,000  to  the 
church  without  restriction. 

$200  was  given  from  the  estate  of  Rev.  Dr.  W.  A.  Hitchcock 
for  the  endowment  fund. 

Samuel  W.  Hall  died  March  5,  1877. 

In  addition  to  a  handsome  bequest  for  a  soldiers'  monument  and 

79 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

$15,000,  which  was  the  initiative  of  Trinity  Church,  he  left  the 
following  bequests  to  St.  John's  Parish. 
From  his  will: 

SECTION  TWENTY-THIRD. 

I  give  and  bequeath  the  St.  John's  Parish,  of  Waterbury,  Five  thousand 
dollars  as  a  perpetual  fund  to  be  kept  and  managed  by  the  legally  constituted 
authorities  of  said  parish,  and  the  income  of  said  fund  and  that  only  shall 
be  used  to  repair,  alter  or  add  to  the  church  edifice  of  said  parish,  and  for  no 
other  purpose  whatsoever. 

SECTION  TWENTY-FOURTH. 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  St.  John's  Parish  the  further  sum  of  three  thousand 
dollars  as  a  perpetual  fund,  to  be  kept  and  managed  by  the  legally  constituted 
authorities  of  said  parish,  and  the  income  of  said  fund  and  that  only,  shall 
be  used  to  maintain  the  parish  library  of  said  parish,  and  for  no  other  purpose 
whatsoever. 

SECTION  TWENTY-FIFTH. 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  said  St.  John's  Parish,  of  Waterbury,  the  further 
sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  for  the  establishment  of  a  fund  to  be  known  as 
the  "  Hall  Fund,' '  for  the  benefit  and  relief  of  the  poor  of  said  parish.  Said 
fund  shall  be  kept  and  managed  by  the  legally  constituted  authorities  of  said 
parish,  shall  be  a  perpetual  fund,  and  the  income  thereof,  but  no  part  of  the 
principal  sum,  shall  be  expended  in  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  this  bequest. 
No  payment  of  said  income  or  any  part  thereof  shall  ever  be  made  but  upon 
orders  drawn  upon  the  treasurer  of  said  parish,  signed  by  the  rector  or  assistant 
rector  and  at  least  one  each  of  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  said  corporation. 

SECTION  TWENTY-SEVENTH. 

I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  James  S.  Elton,  John  C.  Booth,  Scovill  M. 
Buckingham  and  Isaac  E.  Newton  and  their  heirs,  a  legacy  of  ten  thousand 
dollars,  in  trust,  "to  erect  or  purchase  and  maintain  a  suitable  home  for  the 
widows  and  other  indigent  females  of  St.  John's  Parish,  of  said  Waterbury, 
to  be  known  as  the  St.  John's  Church  Home." 

The  legacies  under  Sections  23,  24,  and  25  were  paid  to  the 
parish  and  are  held  for  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  given. 

The  $10,000  given  to  certain  individuals  and  their  heirs  in 
trust,  it  was  thought  would  result  in  making  the  heirs  trustees, 
which  would  be  embarrassing.  An  agreement  was  therefore  made 
with  Mr.  Hall's  residuary  legatees  by  which  the  gift  was  allowed 
to  lapse  and  was  then  made  over  by  the  residuary  legatees  to  St. 
John's  Parish  for  The  Church  Home  and  Charity  Foundation. 

80 


TRUST  FUNDS. 

This  is  all  set  forth  in  the  following  contract: 

Whereas,  Samuel  W.  Hall,  late  of  Waterbury,  Conn.,  deceased,  in  a  Will 
which  bears  date  the  3d  day  of  March,  1877,  and  was  admitted  to  probate 
March  13th,  1877,  by  the  twenty-seventh  clause  hi  said  will,  devised  and  be- 
queathed to  James  S.  Elton,  John  C.  Booth,  Scovill  M.  Buckingham  and  Isaac 
E.  Newton,  and  then-  heirs,  a  legacy  of  ten  thousand  dollars  in  trust  "  to  erect 
or  purchase  and  maintain  a  suitable  home  for  the  widows  and  other  indigent 
females  of  St.  John's  Parish,  of  said  Waterbury,  to  be  known  as  the  St.  John's 
Church  Home,  which  legacy  was  also  devised  and  bequeathed  on  certain  con- 
ditions within  three  years  to  be  fulfilled"  by  the  members  of  St.  John's  Parish. 

And  whereas  the  Rev.  Joel  F.  Bingham,  on  the  17th  day  of  December,  1877, 
conveyed  by  good  and  sufficient  deed  to  the  St.  John's  Parish  of  Waterbury, 
which  deed  is  recorded  in  the  land  records  of  the  Town  of  Waterbury,  Vol.  96,  p. 
326  and  327,  certain  real  estate  therein  described,  in  trust  for  the  purposes  of 
the  St.  John's  Church  Home  and  Charity  Foundation  as  it  is  to  be  adminis- 
tered by  said  parish  by  the  terms  of  said  deed — a  reference  to  which  is  hereby 
had  for  a  full  description  of  the  purposes  thereof. 

Now  therefore,  in  case  for  any  reason  whatever,  the  said  legacy  of  the  said 
Samuel  W.  Hall  shall  lapse  and  revert  to  us,  then  and  upon  that  condition 
we  do  subscribe  hereby  and  agree  to  pay  over  to  the  said  St.  John's  Parish, 
in  trust  for  the  purposes  of  the  said  St.  John's  Home  and  Charity  Foundation, 
the  amount  of  money,  be  it  more  or  less,  which  may  so  revert  to  us  under  the 
conditions  of  said  will. 

And  it  is  understood,  and  this  subscription  is  made  on  the  further  condition 
that  at  the  end  of  the  said  three  years  there  shall  have  been  contributed  and 
shall  be  in  the  possession  of  the  said  St.  John's  Parish,  La  trust  for  the  purposes 
of  the  Home  and  Charity  Foundation  above  named  in  money  or  other  property, 
a  value  of  not  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  otherwise  this  subscription 
shall  be  void  and  of  no  effect. 

In  witness  whereof,  we,  the  residuary  legatees,  in  said  will,  have  hereunto 
set  our  hands  and  seals  at  said  Waterbury,  the  twenty-first  of  February,  1878. 
Signed: 

FLORENCE  HALL,  BAHTOLO  L.   D'AUBIGNE, 

CLARA  M.  BTJRRITT,  MARGARET  W.  HILL, 

ANGELO  C.  BTJRRITT,  JOHN  W.  HILL. 

SARAH  L.  D'AUBIGNE, 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Rector,  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  John's 
Parish,  held  in  the  Chapel,  March  3rd,  1880,  the  following  was 
offered  by  F.  J.  Kingsbury: 

Whereas:  John  W.  Hill,  Margaret  W.  Hill,  Angelo  C.  Burritt,  Clara  M. 
Burritt,  Bartolo  L.  D'Aubigne,  Sarah  L.  D'Aubigne  and  Florence  Hall,  resid- 
uary legatees  under  the  will  of  the  late  Samuel  W.  Hall,  have  given  to  this 
parish  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  upon  certain  considerations,  for  cer- 

81 

7 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

tain  purposes  and  upon  certain  conditions,  as  set  forth  in  a  certain  agreement 
and  writing  dated  February  2d,  1878,  and  recorded  in  the  records  of  the  par- 
ish; one  of  the  said  conditions  being,  "that  at  the  end  of  three  years  from 
March  3,  1877,  there  shall  have  been  contributed  and  shall  be  in  possession 
of  said  St.  John's  Parish  in  trust  for  the  purposes  of  the  Home  and  Charity 
Foundation  above  named  in  money  or  other  property,  a  value  of  not  less  than 
ten  thousand  dollars,"  which  condition  has  been  complied  with;  therefore, 

Voted :  That  this  parish  accept  said  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  contributed 
by  said  residuary  legatees,  and  said  further  and  other  money  and  property, 
in  trust  for  the  purposes  named  or  referred  to,  in  said  agreement  and  writing. 

On  motion,  the  preamble  and  vote  was  unanimously  adopted. 

On  motion,  voted  that  the  clerk  be  instructed  to  transmit  a  copy  of  the 
foregoing  preamble  and  vote,  to  each  of  the  Executors  of  the  late  S.  W.  Hall, 
deceased. 

On  motion,  adjourned.  Attest:  NELSON  J.  WELTON,  Clerk. 

This  may  certify  that  I  left  at  the  usual  places  of  abode  of  James  S.  Elton, 
Angelo  C.  Burritt,  Executors  of  the  late  Samuel  W.  Hall,  deceased,  true  copies 
of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  vote,  this  3rd  day  of  March,  1880. 

Attest:   NELSON    J.    WELTON,    Clerk. 

At  a  meetiing  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  John's  Parish, 
held  in  the  Church,  December  25th,  1877,  the  Rev.  Joel  Foot 
Bingham,  Rector  of  said  Parish,  presented  for  the  acceptance  of 
the  Parish,  a  deed,  conveying  to  this  parish  certain  lands  therein 
described,  in  trust,  for  the  purpose  of  owning  and  supporting 
within  the  limits  and  jurisdiction  of  this  parish,  a  church  home, 
orphanage,  hospital,  chapels,  schools  and  other  religious  and  chari- 
table agencies,  which  are  appropriate  to  the  intentions  of  said 
trust. 

Therefore,  Resolved:  That  said  deed  be  and  is  hereby  accepted  by  this 
parish,  including  the  trusts  therein  designated,  and  the  thanks  are  due,  and 
are  hereby  most  cordially  tendered  to  the  Rector  and  such  other  benevolent 
persons  as  have  contributed  to  such  charitable  and  religious  purposes. 

Copy  of  deed  accepted  by  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  in  behalf 
of  the  parish,  December  25th,  1877. 
To  all  people  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come,  Greeting: 

Know  ye,  that  I,  the  Reverend  Joel  Foote  Bingham,  Doctor  in  Divinity, 
rector  of  St.  John's  Parish,  Waterbury,  Connecticut,  and  Pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gations thereto  belonging,  in  consideration  of  the  needs  of  the  destitute,  the 
sick  and  the  friendless  in  the  said  congregations  and  city,  and  in  consideration 
of  my  desire  and  purpose  to  alleviate  said  need  and  suffering  and  in  further 

82 


TRUST  FUNDS. 

consideration  of  the  convenient  organization  and  lawful  capacities  of  the  said 
parish,  but  receiving  from  the  said  parish  neither  directly  nor  indirectly  there- 
for any  money,  profit,  emolument  or  other  valuable  consideration,  except  the 
hope  and  prospect  of  the  faithful  and  gratuitous  fulfillment  of  this  trust,  do 
give,  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  confirm  unto  said  St.  John's  Parish,  an  ecclesias- 
tical corporation  located  in  the  city  of  Waterbury,  New  Haven  County,  State 
of  Connecticut,  in  trust,  the  following  pieces  or  parcel  of  land  lying  in  the 
said  city  of  Waterbury,  situated  south  westerly  from  Center  Square  at  Brook- 
lyn, so  called,  on  the  corner  of  Leonard  and  Dodd  Streets;  bounded  northward 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five  (165)  feet  on  land  of  John  C.  Booth  and  Nelson 
J.  Welton;  easterly  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  (153)  feet  on  Leonard  Street; 
southerly  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  (165)  feet  on  Dodd  Street,  and  westerly 
one  hundred  and  fifty-three  (153)  feet  on  land  of  John  C.  Booth  and  Nelson 
J.  Welton.  The  corners  being  right  angles.  Being  lots  Nos.  87,  88,  89  and  93 
on  Booth  and  Welton's  survey  of  the  Porter  farm;  for  the  purposes  of  owning 
and  supporting  within  the  limits  and  jurisdiction  of  said  Parish,  a  Church 
Home,  Orphanage,  Hospital,  Chapels,  Schools  and  any  other  religious  and 
Charitable  Agencies  which  are  appropriate  to  the  intention  of  this  trust. 
Being  the  same  premises  lately  conveyed  to  me  from  John  C.  Booth  and  Nelson 
J.  Welton,  purchased  with  money  deposited  with  me  in  trust  by  sundry  and 
divers  benevolent  persons,  to  be  used  in  my  discretion  for  the  aforesaid  chari- 
table and  religious  purposes. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  and  bargained  premises  with  the 
appurtenances  thereof,  unto  the  said  Grantee  and  its  successors  forever,  to  it 
and  their  proper  use  and  behoof  for  the  purposes  aforesaid.  And  also  I,  the 
said  grantor,  do  for  myself,  my  heirs,  executors  and  administrators,  covenant 
with  the  said  grantee  and  its  successors,  that  at  and  until  the  ensealing  of  these 
presents  I  am  well  seized  of  the  premises  as  a  good,  indefeasible  estate  in  fee 
simple  and  have  good  right  to  bargain  and  sell  the  same  in  manner  and  form 
as  is  above  written,  and  that  the  same  is  free  from  all  incumbrances  whatsoever. 

In  Witness  Whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  18th  day 
of  December,  A.  D.,  1877. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered 

In  presence  of:  , . — • — 

J.  W.  WEBSTER,  (Signed)  J.  F.  BINGHAM.    <     SEAL 

WM.  W.  BONNETT.  *• ' — . — 

NEW  HAVEN  COUNTY,  ss: 

WATERBURY,  December  18th,  1877. 

Personally  appeared  Joel  Foote  Bingham,  signer  and  sealer  of  the  foregoing 
instrument,  and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed  before  me. 

JOHN  W.  WEBSTER, 

Notary  Public. 

The  above  is  recorded  in  Waterbury  Land  Records,  Vol.  96, 
Pages  326  and  327. 

83 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

To  the  Parishioners  of  St.  John's  Parish  in  annual  meeting  assembled: 

Gentlemen : — I  transmit  herewith  my  annual  abstract  of  the  various  charita- 
ble accounts  which  are  kept  under  my  hand,  and  also  the  approximate  inven- 
tory of  the  moneys  and  property  held  by  me  and  by  the  parish,  in  trust  for 
the  St.  John's  Church  Home  and  Charity  Foundation. 

During  the  year,  acting  on  my  best  judgment,  and  with  the  advice  and 
concurrence  of  the  trustees  named  in  the  27th  clause  of  the  will  of  the  late 
lamented  Mr.  S.  W.  Hall  and  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  John's 
Parish  and  with  the  approbation  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  I  have  selected, 
purchased  and  conveyed  to  the  parish,  in  trust,  a  very  eligible  site  on  South 
Leonard  St.  (West  Side)  for  the  future  buildings  of  the  Home  and  Charity 
Foundation  of  the  congregations  belonging  to  this  parish. 

As  will  appear  from  the  appendix  to  the  enclosed  inventory,  I  have  in 
subscriptions,  conditional  and  otherwise  (besides  the  subscription  of  the 
residuary  legatees  of  Mr.  Hall,  based  upon  the  27th  clause  of  his  will,  which 
subscription  will  be  presented  and  read  to  the  meeting  of  the  executors  of 
that  will)  a  considerable  amount  given  especially  for  the  erection  on  the 
above  mentioned  lots  of  a  suitable  chapel,  as  the  first  in  a  series  of  future 
erections  to  include  beside  the  Home  proper  with  its  chapel  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  both  sexes,  also  in  time,  an  orphanage  for  both  sexes,  and  a  creche,  or 
day-nursery,  with  the  attendant  church  schools,  and  a  General  church  hospital. 
Beside  the  ground,  (which  we  have)  this  will  eventually  involve,  in  the  cost 
of  buildings  and  in  funds  invested  for  its  support,  not  less  than  $100,000,  which 
I  hope  and  believe  will  be  realized,  though  we  may  not  see  the  day. 

The  amount  of  property  already  in  the  trust  of  the  parish;  the  invested 
funds  now  in  hand;  the  subscriptions  for  the  chapel  lying  on  call;  the  condi- 
tional subscriptions  on  Mr.  Hall's  legacy;  and  at  least  two  considerable  legacies, 
still  future,  of  which  the  rector  has  been  notified  and  which  are  liable  at  any 
time  to  fall  in;  constitute  together  a  charge  so  important  that  I  recommend  and 
request  the  appointment  by  the  parish  at  the  present  annual  meeting,  of  a 
committee  of  two  or  three  to  carry  forward  in  conjunction  with  the  rector,  the 
necessary  subscriptions  and  the  general  management  of  the  whole  trust. 

Respectfully  and  faithfully  yours, 
Easter  Monday,  A.  D.,  1878.  J'  K  B»OTAII,  Rector. 

The  parish  did  not  deem  it  desirable  to  pursue  Dr.  Bingham's 
plan  of  building  in  the  Brooklyn  District,  and  it  was  voted  that 
he  be  asked  to  execute  a  release  of  any  claim  he  may  have  on  said 
land,  he  having  taken  the  title  in  his  own  name  and  executed  a 
deed  of  trust  to  the  parish. 

This  deed  was  subsequently  given  by  Dr.  Bingham  April  28, 
1884,  and  the  title  is  now  clear  in  the  parish,  and  several  pieces 
of  the  land  in  the  Brooklyn  District  have  been  sold. 

84 


TRUST  FUNDS. 


The  constitution  of  a  board  of  managers  for  the  Hall  Funds  will 
be  found  in  the  Extracts  from  Church  Records,  Chapter  VIII. 


TRUST  FUNDS. 


.  $10,000 
.       5,000 
.      3,000 
.     30,500 
.       5,000 
.       5,000 
.       1,000 
200 
605 

60,305 

$5,979.50 
1,800.00 
610.53 
2,404.49 

10,794.52 

$4,500.00 
3,000.00 
950.00 
370.00 
540.00 
500.00 
900.00 
165.00 
71.22 
94.96 

11,091.18 

INVENTORY  OP  CHURCH  PROPERTY. 

St.  John's  Church  of  1873  and  land  .         .          $200,000.00 

Parish  House  and  land  of  Mrs.  Buel,         .         »  , ;         25,000.00 

State  Street  Lot 7,000.00 

Rectory, 25,000.00 

Land  in  Brooklyn  District,     ....  5,000.00 

Land  in  Park 200.00 

Mortgages  and  Savings  Bank  deposits,  mostly  repre- 
senting trust  funds, 60,805.00 

323,005.00 
85 


The  Hall  Poor  Fund, 
The  Hall  Repair  Fund,      . 
The  Hall  Library  Fund,   . 
The  Glebe  Fund,      . 
The  Charles  Scott  Fund,   . 
The  E.  M.  Burrall  Fund,    . 
The  Sarah  Merriman  Fund 
The  W.  A.  Hitchcock  Fund, 
The  Endowment  Fund,     . 


SOURCES  OF  YEARLY  INCOME,  1906. 
Pew  Rents,  ...... 

Envelope  Fund,   .         .         .         .         . 

Other  Donations, 

Interest  Account, 


ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH  EXPENSES,  1906. 
Clergymen's  Salaries,,  .         .         .         .         . 
Organist  and  Musical  Expenses,    . 

Sexton,   etc., 

Lighting      .          «         .          .          .          .          t 

Heating,     .         .         .         .         .  •  . 

Insurance,  ....... 

Repairs,      ....... 

Water, 

Convention  Fund,         ..... 
Bishop's  Fund,    ...... 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS  WITH  SOME  NOTES. 

THE  earliest  record  which  we  have  in  point  of  date  is  an  entry 
on  page  eight  of  our  oldest  record  book  as  follows: — 

"Mr.  Joseph  Bronson's  record,  transcribed  for  the  year 
1758.  July  ye  17,  1758,  at  a  vestry  held  in  the  church,  it  was 
voted  that  we  would  give  Mr.  Scovil  twenty  pound  sterling  a 
year  and  the  yues  (use)  of  the  Gleeb,  provided  he  get  nothing  at 
hum,  and  it  was  agreed  that  we  should  have  half  the  (amount) 
got  at  hum. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  we  would  give  him 
twenty-two  pound,  ten  shillings,  sterling,  to  carry  him  hum. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  John  Brown  and  John 
Welton  should  make  the  rate  and  collect  the  money  for  Mr.  Scovil. 

March  the  31, 176(0)  ?  a  vestry  holden  in  the  church  it  was  voted 
that  we  would  finish  the  upper  part  of  the  church.  At  the  same 
vestry  it  was  voted  that  Capt.  Geo.  Nichols,  Ins.  (ensign)  Warner 
and  Abraham  Hickox  should  be  trustees  to  provide  and  carry  on 
the  work  and  to  make  a  rate,  and  Elezar  Prindle  appointed  to 
collect  the  rate  and  collect  it  on  December  next. " 

Our  first  record  book  begins,  "  At  a  vestre  holden  in  St.  Jamses 
Church  at  Waterbury,  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  176(1)  [this  last 
figure  is  worn  off,  but  the  next  meeting  is  March,  1762].  At  said 
vestry  Mr.  Thomas  Osborn  was  chosen  clerk  by  the  vestry.  Mr. 
James  Scovil  [the  rector]  at  said  vestry;  Timothy  Porter  and 
John  Welton  was  chosen  Church  Wardens. 

Voted  in  said  vestry  to  give  the  Widow  Harrison  £1.  8.  0.  that 
was  due  her  on  account  of  some  work  that  her  husband  was  to  due 
to  the  church;  voted  in  said  vestry  that  Ebenezer  Warner  should 
assist  in  tuning  the  psalm;  voted  in  said  vestry  that  Samuel  Brown 
should  assist  in  tuning  the  psalm;  voted  in  said  vestry  that  Heze- 
kiah  Brown  should  assist  in  tuning  the  psalm. 

86 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

Voted  in  said  vestry  that  we  will  meet  in  the  church  on  Sun- 
days and  read  prayers  when  Mr.  Scovil  is  absent.  Voted  in  the 
vestry  that  Mr.  Scovil  shall  have  what  is  due  for  the  rent  of  the 
Glebe. 

March  17,  1762— Voted,  David  Warner,  Abraham  Hickox, 
Elezar  Prindel,  should  be  a  societies  committee.  [Whether 
this  congregationalist  nomenclature  was  with  reference  to  some 
legal  question  as  to  parish  organization  or  whether  it  was  a  recur- 
rence from  habit  to  the  congregational  form,  they  having  all  been 
brought  up  Congregationalists,  I  do  not  know,  but  this  phrase, 
"Societies  Committee"  is  frequently  used  in  the  records  for 
many  years,  and  seems  to  have  been  considered  an  equivalent  for 
vestrymen  in  its  present  acceptance.  I  think  the  word  "vestry," 
as  used  in  the  early  records,  signified  a  meeting  of  the  parish  or  of 
the  Church  authorities.] 

At  this  same  meeting  a  vote  was  passed  appointing  John  Wei- 
ton,  Ebenezer  Warner,  Capt.  Geo.  Nichols,  to  examine  into  the 
circumstances  of  the  lands  belonging  to  this  town,  that  is  given 
for  public  use.  [Doubtless  the  question  in  mind  was  whether 
some  of  it  could  not  be  made  available  for  the  Episcopal  Church.] 

Voted  that  Mr.  Scovil  shall  have  the  foremost  pew  next  the 
alley,  in  the  east  end  of  the  church.  [Mr.  Scovil  married  Amy, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Geo.  Nichols,  November  17,  1762.] 

2d  day  of  March,  1763.  Voted  that  the  vestry  will  be  at  the 
cost  of  a  vestry  book.  [This  is  doubtless  the  book  from  which 
these  records  are  taken.  It  is  a  well  made  book  about  twelve 
and  one-half  by  nine  and  one-quarter  inches,  bound  in  parchment 
or  vellum,  and  having  approximately  400  pages.] 

Voted  to  raise  Mr.  Scovil's  rate  for  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  give  Mr.  Scovil  one  penny  and  a  half  penny  on  the 
pound  this  present  year. 

Voted  in  said  vestry  that  the  over  plush  money  of  Mr.  Scovil's 
rate  in  the  year  1762  shall  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  committee. 

Voted  in  said  vestry  that  the  money  that  is  in  hands  of  the 
Church  Wardens  that  belongs  to  the  Church,  shall  be  laid  out  to 
furnish  the  communion  table  and  to  get  a  choshion  for  the  pulpit, 
and  other  things  necessary  for  the  pulpit  and  the  reading  desk. 

87 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  holden  in  St.  Jameses  Church,  at 
Waterbury,  on  the  6th  day  of  March,  1764. 

Voted — That  the  committee  shall  have  full  power  to  act  with 
respect  to  the  ministerial  money  as  they  shall  think  best.  [The 
clerks  do  not  sign  the  records,  but  Thomas  Osborn  appears  to  have 
remained  clerk  until  the  6th  of  March,  1765,  when  Abraham 
Hickox  was  elected.  A  vote  was  also  passed  directing  parents  to 
hand  in  the  children's  names  for  baptism,  in  writing,  which  writ- 
ing the  rector  was  to  deliver  to  the  palish  clerk  for  record,  and 
immediately  following  this  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  children  christ- 
ened. These  names  Miss  Katharine  A.  Prichard  has  recorded 
in  the  genealogical  record  of  the  History  of  Waterbury.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  April  1,  1766.  Voted— That 
Mr.  Scovil  and  the  Church  Wardens  should  get,  with  part  of  the 
Church  Stock,  conveniences  for  communion  and  Chrisning  children 
for  the  church  at  Wes'tr'y.  [This  was  the  year  following  the  erec- 
tion of  the  church  at  Westbury  (Watertown).] 

At  this  meeting  it  was  also  voted  "to  give  the  Reverent  Mr. 
Scovil  thirty  pounds  lawful  money  for  the  year  1767,  as  a  sallery 
for  his  service  in  preaching  this  year." 

At  a  vestry  held  March  18,  1767,  was  chosen  Capt.  Edward 
Scovil,  Joh  Welton,  Abraham  Hickox  to  go  to  Northbury  and  New 
Cambridge  to  confer  with  them  about  a  division  of  the  Mishon. 
Voted  that  we  will  exert  ourselves  for  a  division  of  the  mishon. 

March  29,  1769,  it  was  voted  that  said  vestry  are  willing  that 
Northbury  and  Westbury  should  have  the  liberty  to  get  them  a 
minister  when  they  should  think  proper. 

At  the  same  meeting  voted  that  Abraham  Hickox,  Capt. 
John  Welton,  Capt.  Edward  Scovil  be  a  committee  with  discretion- 
ary power  to  sue  or  otherwise  recover  the  money  belonging  to 
said  church,  by  vote  of  the  town  of  Waterbury  in  the  year  1770. 

Voted  that  Westbury  shall  have  their  part  of  Mr.  Scovil's  ser- 
vices of  preaching  according  as  their  list  draws  til  there  shall  come 
a  minister  to  Northbury  and  New  Cambrige. 

Voted  that  we  will  give  Northbury  and  New  Cambrige  towards 
a  man  going  to  take  holy  orders,  £30.  lawful  money. 

Voted,  that  we  will  pay  £45.  sterling  a  year  salary,   to   be 

88 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

paid  to  the  minister  of  the  Church  of  England,  in  case  Northbury 
and  New  Cambrige  provide  for  themselves,  which  vote  is  to  con- 
tinue in  force  until  the  said  Northbury  and  Cambrige  obtain 
benefaction  from  the  Society,  or  so  long  as  Mr.  Scovil  shall  serve 
in  this  mission. 

At  a  vestry  held  April  15th,  1772,  voted  to  chuse  a  Comity  to  try 
by  confering  with  other  comitties  from  other  parts  of  the  mishon 
to  get  another  minister  to  the  mishon  or  to  get  the  mishon  divided: 
David  Warner,  Capt.  John  Welton,  Doc.  Timothy  Porter,  Abra- 
ham Hickox,  Enos  Gunn  and  Benjamin  Benham  were  appointed 
the  committee. 

[During  the  Revolution  meetings  were  regularly  held  and  the 
ordinary  appointments  made  and  the  christenings  recorded.] 

Nov.  8,  1783,  voted  that  Mr.  Scovill  should  have  liberty  to 
pull  down  the  Glebe  house,  leaving  the  chimney  and  reserving 
the  glass  for  the  church. 

Nov.  8,  1784— Voted  to  give  Rev.  Mr.  Scovil  £55  salary  for 
the  ensuing  year,  including  Westbury,  for  a  portion  according  to 
the  original  agreement,  the  above  said  salary  to  be  paid  by  the 
first  of  March  ensuing.  [This  record  is  of  a  meeting  of  the 
Episcopal  Society  or  Congregation,  all  previous  records  have  been 
of  a  meeting  of  vestry.] 

Sept.  1,  1785 — A  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  com- 
mittee of  the  Episcopalian  Society  in  Westbury  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Scovil,  and  know  of  him  upon  what  terms  he  will  preach  with  us 
and  make  report  to  some  future  meeting.  At  the  same  meeting 
was  voted  to  have  the  Rev.  Mr.  Scovil's  service  in  preaching 
half  the  time  and  to  pay  him  for  the  same. 

At  a  meeting  Dec.  7,  1785 — Voted  to  give  Rev.  Mr.  Scovil 
forty-five  pounds  lawful  money  for  a  salary  for  the  current  year 
for  his  service  in  preaching  one-half  the  time. 

[Mr.  Scovil  finally  left  in  1786.] 

May  1,  1786 — A  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Committee  at  Watertown  about  getting  a  minister  into  the  mis- 
sion. 

Aug.  28,  1786— At  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  Mr.  Caleb  Merril 
for  Moderator,  voted  that  we  will  settle  a  minister  and  have 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

his  service  one  half  the  time,  or  as  shall  best  suit  the  Society  at 
some  future  meeting. 

Sept.  25 — Voted  that  the  committee  formerly  appointed  to 
cover  the  church,  be  desired  to  appropriate  such  monies  as  remain 
in  their  hands  unapplied,  to  the  glazing  and  repairing  the  church. 

Voted  that  the  committee  be  directed  to  write  to  Mr.  Philo 
Perry  for  a  Sunday  in  St.  James  Church  as  soon  as  convenient. 

Dec.  4,  1786 — Voted  to  make  a  rate  two  pence  on  a  pound  on 
the  list  of  1786,  and  lay  out  the  money  for  preaching  according  to 
their  discretion,  the  above  said  rate  to  be  paid  by  the  first  day  of 
March  next. 

Dec.  3,  1787 — Voted  to  settle  a  minister  and  have  his  service 
in  preaching  half  the  time. 

Voted  that  the  committee  apply  to  Mr.  Prindle,  also  to  Mr. 
Blakeslee  and  Mr.  Ives,  and  know  their  terms  of  settlement,  and 
make  report  to  this  meeting  at  some  future  day. 

Dec.  27 — Voted  to  reconsider  the  above  and  directed  the  Com- 
mittee to  apply  to  Mr.  Prindle  and  make  report. 

Feb.  4,  1788— Voted  that  Mr.  Herman  Munson,  together  with 
the  Committe  be  directed  to  procure  the  schoolhouse  for  the  Con- 
vention to  meet  in  and  provide  wood  sufficient  for  them  at  the 
Society's  cost.  [A  schoolhouse  had  been  built  about  three  years 
before  this  on  the  green  in  front  of  where  the  City  Hall  now  stands, 
in  which  Rev.  Joseph  Badger  and  Mr.  John  Kingsbury  were  con- 
ducting a  successful  school.  This  is  doubtless  the  building  re- 
ferred to.] 

March  24,  1788— Voted  that  the  committee  be  directed  to 
apply  to  Mr.  Reuben  Ives  for  further  service  in  preaching  among 
us. 

June  12,  1788 — Voted  to  adopt  the  doings  of  the  Convention 
held  at  Wallingford  on  the  7th  day  of  May  last,  respecting  the 
bishop's  salary. 

Voted  to  direct  the  Committee  to  apply  to  Mr.  Ives  to  engage 
him  to  preach  for  us|what  time  he  can  until  his  year  is  out  with 
Cheshire  and  Bethany. 

Sept.  25,  1788— Voted  to  hire  Mr.  Ambrose  Hull  to  read  pray- 
ers and  preach  two-thirds  of  the  time. 

90 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

April  27,  1789;  Upon  a  report  of  the  Societies  of  Salem  and 
Bristol  that  they  wish  to  join  us  and  support  a  clergyman  for  one- 
half  the  time,  viz.,  one-fourth  each.  Voted,  that  we  desire  and 
wish  to  settle  and  pay  a  clergyman  for  one-half  the  time. 

Voted  that  the  Committee  be  directed  to  apply  to  Mr.  Solomon 
Blakeslee  as  a  candidate. 

May  25,  1789— Voted  to  give  Mr.  Blakeslee  a  call  for  one-half 
the  time. 

Voted  to  give  him  £40  a  year  and  his  fire  wood  for  one-half 
his  service  as  a  parish  minister  and  his  residence  in  this  place,  and 
to  increase  his  salary  to  £45  as  the  list  of  the  church  increases. 

June  16,  1790 — Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle  present.  (The  usual 
formal  business  done.) 

Sept.  13. — Voted  that  the  committee  be  requested  to  apply  to 
Rev.  David  Foot  to  know  whether  he  is  willing  to  settle  as  a  parish 
minister  among  us. 

Voted  to  have  the  services  of  a  clergyman  two-thirds  of  the 
time  and  to  give  Mr.  Foot  two-thirds  of  £85  and  his  fire  wood, 
provided  he  reside  in  this  Society. 

Voted  that  the  Committee  be  requested  to  address  the  Reverend 
Episcopal  Convention  and  request  their  advice  and  influence 
in  uniting  to  this  parish  the  Episcopal  parishes  of  Woodbury  and 
Salem,  or  either  of  them  and  to  inform  them  that  we  are  willing  to 
dispense  with  having  but  one-half  the  services  of  a  clergyman  and 
to  pay  in  the  same  proportion  as  shall  be  thought  best. 

Oct.  18 — Voted  that  the  Committee  be  requested  and  directed 
to  apply  to  the  Episcopal  parishes  of  Woodbury  and  Salem  and 
confer  with  their  Committee  in  order  to  form  a  Mission  with  us 
and  know  what  proportion  of  time  each  parish  would  wish  to  have 
the  service  of  a  clergyman  and  make  report  to  a  future  meeting. 

Nov.  1,  1790— Voted  that  the  Committee  be  requested  to  apply 
firstly  to  the  Rev.  Solomon  Blakeslee  and  invite  him  to  preach  in 
the  several  Episcopal  churches  of  Waterbury,  Woodbury  and 
Salem  as  a  candidate,  in  order  for  a  settlement  as  a  parish  minister 
for  said  churches,  or  secondly,  to  Mr.  Marsh,  or  thirdly,  to  Mr. 
Bronson  for  the  aforesaid  purposes. 

April  11,  1791— Voted  that  the  Committee  be  directed  and 

91 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

requested  to  apply  to  Mr.  Ammi  Rogers  and  request  and  engage 
him  to  hold  himself  as  a  candidate  for  this  Society  and  be  with 
us  as  soon  as  he  can  with  convenience. 

April  25 — Voted  that  the  Committee  be  requested  to  apply  to 
Mr.  Hart  and  invite  and  engage  him  to  officiate  as  a  candidate  for 
this  Society  and  be  with  us  as  soon  as  may  be  with  convenience. 

Voted,  to  reconsider  the  vote  respecting  an  application  to  Mr. 
Ammi  Rogers.  [This  looks  as  if  they  had  learned  something  of  Mr. 
Rogers.] 

August  27 — Voted  that  Committee  be  instructed  to  inform  our 
bretheren  at  Salem  that  whenever  we  have  treated  them  with  any 
kind  of  neglect,  we  are  willing  to  rescind  it  and  give  them  a  fresh 
assurance  that  we  will  treat  them  with  respect  in  the  future. 

Voted  to  give  Mr.  Hart  a  call  for  a  settlement  for  one-half  the 
time. 

Sept.  27, 1971— Voted  that  this  Society  are  willing  and  desirous 
to  receive  Mr.  Seth  Hart  as  our  minister  as  soon  as  he  shall  be  put 
into  Holy  Orders. 

Voted  that  we  will  give  Mr.  Seth  Hart,  after  he  shall  be  ad- 
mitted to  and  receive  holy  orders,  provided  he  shall  make  his  resi- 
dence among  us  and  perform  parochial  service  in  the  Episcopal 
Society  at  Waterbury,  for  one-half  the  time,  the  sum  of  £40  law- 
ful money  for  the  first  year,  and  the  use  of  the  glebe,  annually — to 
increase  twenty  shillings  annually  for  five  years  next  ensuing,  and 
£45  thereafter. 

Dec.  5 — Voted  that  whenever  Mr.  Hart's  salary  is  3  months 
in  arrears  the  Committee  shall  give  a  note  on  interest  and  the 
Society  shall  indemnify  the  Committee. 

Dec.  3,  1792 — Committee  appointed  to  treat  with  Committee 
of  the  several  Presbyterian  Societies  in  Waterbury  to  agree  upon 
a  division  of  the  public  or  ministerial  money  belonging  to  this  town. 

April  1,  1793 — The  question  being  put  whether  this  Society 
do  approve  and  adopt  the  proposed  constitution  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Voted  in  the  affirmative. 

April    1,  1793 — Voted  that  Rev.  Mr.  Hart  officiate  one  Sunday 
at  Southington  on  the  cost  of  this  Society. 

Committee  appointed  to  agree  upon  a  place  to  set  a  church 

92 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

and  the  bigness  of  the  same  and  make  report  to  the  next  meeting. 

Voted  that  the  surplusage  of  money  given  at  the  Communion 
be  laid  out  for  Bishop  Seabury's  sermons. 

Sept.  30 — Voted,  by  a  majority  of  more  than  two-thirds  that 
we  are  willing  and  think  it  necessary  to  build  a  church,  or  house 
for  public  worship.  Eli  Curtis,  Esq.,  Mr.  Jude  Blakesley  and 
Captain  Amos  Bryan  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  set  a  stake 
for  the  place  where  to  build  a  church. 

Oct.  21,  1793 — Voted  to  build  a  church  edifice  on  the  East  side 
of  the  road  that  leads  round  the  South  side  of  the  green.  [Church 
Street  was  not  then  open.] 

Dec.  2,  1793 — Voted  to  petition  the  Hon.  County  Court  now 
sitting  in  New  Haven  to  grant  a  Committee  to  come  and  fix 
or  set  a  stake  for  a  place  where  to  erect  a  church,  also  by  vote 
nominated  John  Wooster,  Esq.,  of  Derby,  Thomas  Atwater  of 
Cheshire  and  Abram  Bradley  of  Woodbridge  for  aforesaid  Com- 
mittee if  said  Hon.  Court  in  their  wisdom  should  think  fit  to 
appoint  them. 

Dec.  17,  1793 — Isaac  Benham,  Levi  Bronson,  Richard  F. 
Welton,  John  Hickox  and  Ezra  Pierpont  were  chosen  a  Committee 
to  get  the  minds  of  this  Society  where  to  erect  a  church  and  make 
a  report  to  this  meeting. 

Dec.  26,  1793 — Voted  to  erect  a  fence  around  the  church. 
Same  meeting,  Benjamin  Welton,  Eleazer  Tompkins,  Jesse  Hicox, 
Mark  Warner,  Cornelius  Johnson,  Jr.,  Titus  Welton,  Elijah  Prich- 
ard,  James  Scovil  and  Joseph  Bronson  chosen  Committee  to 
warn  the  inhabitants  of  the  Episcopal  Society  in  Waterbury  to 
attend  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  County  Court  for  the  pur- 
pose of  setting  a  stake  where  to  build  the  church  edifice,  on  the 
1st  day  of  January  next. 

Same  meeting,  Captain  Harman  Munson,  Messrs.  Richard 
Welton,  John  Cossett  and  John  Nichols  was  chosen  for  Committee 
to  view  several  places  where  they  shall  think  best  to  build  a  church 
and  report  to  this  meeting. 

At  the  same  meeting  Isaac  Benham,  Seba  Bronson  and  Eph- 
raim  Warner  were  chosen  for  a  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Committee 

93 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

appointed  by  the  County  Court  when  they  shall  come  to  set  the 
stake  where  to  build  a  church. 

Feb.  3,  1794— Voted  to  call  the  Committee  appointed  by  the 
Hon.  County  Court  to  come  and  take  a  review  of  the  place 
where  to  set  the  stake  for  the  place  to  build  a  church  edifice. 

March  17,  1794 — Voted  that  Seba  Bronson  be  appointed  an 
agent  to  apply  to  the  County  Court  and  the  late  Committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  same  for  setting  a  stake  for  the  church  in  Waterbury 
to  take  the  necessary  measures  for  placing  the  stake  5  rods  south 
of  the  place  where  the  stake  now  stands. 

Sept.  12, 1794 — Voted  that  the  Committee  be  directed  to  reckon 
with  Rev.  Mr.  Hart  and  give  their  Note  payable  the  1st  day  of 
March  next  "without  interest"  for  what  may  be  due  him  now. 

Nov.  3,  1794 — Isaac  Bronson  chosen  agent  instead  of  Seba 
Bronson  to  get  the  stake  moved  5  rods  South. 

Dec.  1,  1794— Voted  that  the  Society's  Committee  be  directed 
to  apply  to  Rev.  Mr.  Griswold  to  perform  divine  service  during 
part  of  the  ensuing  winter. 

Dec.  16,  1794— Voted  that  the  edifice  to  be  erected  for  a 
church  for  this  Society  be  thirty-eight  feet  wide  and  fifty-two  feet 
long. 

Voted — Ephraim  Warner,  Justus  Warner,  Herman  Munson, 
Titus  Welton,  and  John  Cossitt  be  appointed  a  Committee  to 
oversee  and  inspect  the  building  of  the  church. 

Jan.  12,  1795 — Voted  to  build  a  cupola  with  the  house  which 
has  been  voted  to  build. 

February  9,  1795 — Voted  that  the  Societies  committee  be 
directed  to  re-survey  the  Glebe  Swamp  and  fill  it  up  if  they  think 
necessary.  [This  refers  to  the  ground  where  the  present  Church 
stands.] 

Voted  to  build  the  Church  54x38  with  a  steeple  at  the  East  end. 

March  16,  1795— Voted  to  apply  to  Mr.  Griswold  to  settle 
with  us  as  a  clergyman  and  to  pay  him  £75  for  his  services  three- 
fourths  of  the  time.  [Mr.  Griswold  did  not  accept.] 

March  28,  1796— Voted  that  the  Committee  apply  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Bronson  to  preach  with  us  one-half  the  time  until  the  1st  day  of 
December  next  unless  we  are  supplied  otherwise. 

94 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

June  6,  1796— Voted  to  grant  the  Rev.  Wm.  Green  for  his 
annual  service  three-fourths  of  the  time  in  this  Society  three- 
fouths  of  one  hundred  pounds  to  be  paid  in  money  calculating 
on  the  price  of  provisions  at  the  following  rates  viz.,  pork  30s.  pr  C. 
Beef  20s.  Wheat  6s.  6d.  pr  bus.  Rye  4s.  Indian  Corn  3s.  4d. 
And  if  in  the  month  of  January  annually  said  articles  shall  exceed 
the  foregoing  prices  then  said  salary  is  to  increase  to  three-fourths 
of  one  hundred  and  ten  pounds  and  no  more. 

June  20,  1796 — Voted  that  the  Presbyterian  Society  may 
meet  in  the  church  if  they  please  except  when  said  church  have  a 
clergyman.  [The  Congregational  Society  which  is  here  called 
Presbyterian  had  torn  down  their  old  church  to  make  room  for 
a  new  one  in  the  same  place.] 

First  Monday  in  December,  1796 — Voted  that  the  Committee 
be  directed  to  have  Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson  preach  with  us  half 
the  time  or  more  for  the  year  ensuing. 

March  6,  1797— Voted  that  the  Committee  sell  the  old  church 
and  ground  on  which  it  stands  in  such  a  way  and  on  such  terms 
as  they  think  most  beneficial  for  the  Society. 

June  11,  1797 — Voted  to  seat  the  new  church,  the  Committee 
to  use  their  discretion,  having  some  regard  to  age  and  the  lists 
that  money  has  been  raised  upon  to  build  said  church,  with  the 
addition  of  those  persons  that  have  come  into  the  Society  since 
the  house  was  built,  and  make  a  report  to  some  future  meeting. 

Oct.  12,  1797 — Voted  that  Isaac  Benham,  Sebe  Bronson  and 
John  Cossett  be  a  committee  to  prepare  and  give  the  consecration 
deed. 

Oct.  24,  1797 — Voted  to  seat  the  new  church  in  the  following 
manner,  viz.,  taking  the  two  lists  of  '94  and  '5  and  add  them 
together  then  add  £15  a  year  for  every  year  beginning  at  the  age 
of  21 :  and  all  those  that  had  no  list  of  '94  and  '5  shall  take  the  list 
of  '97  and  double  it  to  make  one  list  with  the  addition  of  £15  as 
aforesaid. 

First  Monday  of  December,  1797 — Voted  that  the  money  that 
the  old  church  was  sold  for,  shall  be  applied  to  the  building  of 
the  new  church.  Voted  that  the  Society  are  willing  to  settle  the 

95 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson  as  their  clergyman  if  his  terms  are  such 
as  shall  meet  the  minds  of  the  Society. 

Dec.  27,  1797 — Voted  to  pay  what  is  wanting  with  Mr.  Ben- 
ham  for  singing  at  Dedication. 

First  Monday  of  Dec.  1798 — Voted  a  Committee  to  confer  with 
the  selectmen  relative  to  laying  out  a  highway  between  Israel 
Holmes'  land  and  land  belonging  to  this  Society  from  the  new 
church  to  the  burying  yard  lane,  so  called.  [This  is  now  Church 
Street,  but  it  was  not  laid  out  until  several  years  later.] 

April  15,  1799 — Voted  to  lay  a  tax  of  four  cents  on  the  dollar. 
[This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  dollar  on  these  records.] 

Aug.  19,  1799 — Voted  to  take  counsel  as  to  the  legality  of 
selling  the  Glebe.  [No  report  appears  but  they  must  have  got 
some  advice  which  was  favorable  to  the  sale, — see  Real  Estate.] 

Dec.  1,  Monday,  1799— Voted  a  salary  to  Rev.  Tillotson 
Bronson  of  $250.  for  three-fourths  of  the  time  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[June  4,  1800,  the  Diocesan  Convention  met  here,  but  no 
allusion  to  it  appears  on  the  record.] 

Dec.  13,  1803— Voted  to  "dignify"  the  seats  and  pews  of  the 
church  in  the  following  manner,  viz:  the  two  first  seats  in  the 
church  are  considered  of  the  first  dignity,  the  two  second  seats  and 
the  two  pews  No.  3,  are  of  the  second  dignity;  the  two  third  seats  and 
the  two  pews  No.  4,  are  of  the  third  dignity;  the  two  fourth  seats 
and  the  two  Nos.  5,  and  the  two  of  No.  1,  are  the  fourth  dignity, 
also  the  remaining  parts  of  the  seats  and  pews  in  said  church  (ex- 
cept the  pews  at  the  southeast  corner  of  said  church,  Nos.  9  and 
10)  are  dignified  according  to  the  numbers  of  said  seats  and  pews. 
At  the  same  meeting  voted  to  seat  the  church  by  age  only. 

April  2,  1804— John  Clark,  Richard  Welton  and  Obadiah  War- 
ner were  appointed  a  Committee  with  full  power  to  lease  for  the 
term  of  nine  hundred  years,  provided  they  shall  judge  best,  the 
following  pieces  of  land  belonging  to  this  Society,  viz:  About  ten 
acres  lying  near  the  church,  with  buildings  standing  on  the  same, 
also  about  nine  acres  near  George  Prichard's  dwelling  house,  it 
being  all  the  land  belonging  to  the  Society  at  each  of  these  places, 
also  all  the  land  belonging  to  this  Society  lying  a  little  northward 
of  the  house  of  Abner  Johnson.  [So  far  as  appears,  no  action  was 

96 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

taken  under  this  vote.  This  last  piece  is  the  Willow  Street  piece.] 
Dec.  10,  1805 — Voted  the  Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson  a  salary  of 
three  hundred  dollars  for  three-fourths  of  the  time  the  first  year. 

Sept.  2,  1806 — Voted  that  this  Society  do  approve  of  Mr.  Hor- 
ace V.  Barber  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  and  have  been  well 
pleased  with  his  performance,  and  it  is  their  desire  to  settle  him 
in  this  Society  as  their  Clergyman,  and  that  Messrs.  Richard  Wei- 
ton  and  Herman  Munson  be  a  Committee  appointed  to  present  this 
vote  to  him  and  request  his  answer. 

Oct.  13,  1806— Voted  to  give  Mr.  Virgil  H.  Barber  a  salary  of 
410  dollars  for  his  service  one  year,  to  be  paid  quarterly. 

March  30,  1807— Voted  that  Mr.  Barber  may,  if  he  shall  see 
cause,  preach  such  a  proportion  of  the  time  in  the  town  of  Wol- 
cott,  as  the  list  of  the  members  of  this  Society  living  in  said  town 
shall  bear  to  the  whole  list. 

June  16,  1807 — Voted  to  request  the  Rev.  Bishop  Jarvis  to 
dismiss  the  Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson  from  being  the  clergyman 
of  this  Society.  [This  appears  to  have  been  adopted  as  a  matter 
of  form.] 

At  the  same  meeting  voted  that  the  Standing  Committee  for 
this  year  be  requested  to  call  on  Mr.  Virgil  H.  Barber  to  get  his 
terms  of  settling  as  clergyman  of  this  Society  in  future  and  to 
report  to  this  meeting  as  soon  as  convenient.  The  Committee 
returned  in  a  short  time  with  Mr.  Barber's  answer,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy. 

"  In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  Committee  in  behalf 
of  the  parish  of  St.  John's  Church,  I  respectfully  offer  the  following 
terms  of  agreement  (viz) :  The  sum  that  I  conscientiously  think 
necessary  to  a  competent  support  in  the  character  and  capacity 
of  a  clergyman,  is  five  hundred  dollars,  the  time  of  payment  to  be 
half  yearly.  Now  provided  the  parish  feel  willing  and  ready  to 
accede  to  the  above  terms  without  its  endangering  the  peace  of 
the  church,  it  would  be  very  cheerfully  received  by,  gentlemen, 
your  very  humble  servant,  Virgil  H.  Barber." 

At  the  same  meeting,  voted  to  comply  with  above  said  terms 
of  Mr.  Barber. 

Dec.  29,  1807 — Voted  to  send  Mr.  Justus  Warner  to  the  town 

97 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

of  Claremont  (N.  H.)  to  know  the  reason  of  Mr.  Barber's  not 
returning  to  this  town. 

Voted  to  give  Mr.  Warner  for  the  journey  above  said,  fourteen 
dollars. 

Feb.  15,  1808 — Voted  to  have  the  church  painted  in  the  course 
of  this  year. 

April  15,  1808— Voted,  that  Rev.  Mr.  Barber  shall  have  leave, 
if  he  please,  to  preach  at  Wolcott  a  proportionate  part  of  the  time 
until  next  annual  meeting. 

May  14,  1810— On  petition  of  the  town  of  Middlebury,  pray- 
ing the  Legislature  to  cause  the  several  Societies  in  Waterbury  to 
relinquish  a  certain  part  of  the  public  ministerial  and  school 
monies  belonging  to  the  said  Societies;  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  resist  the  same. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Society  be  presented  to  Mr. 
David  Taylor  for  his  present  of  an  elegant  Bible,  received  by 
hand  of  Mr.  Wm.  K.  Lamson.  [Mr.  Taylor  had  been  a  merchant 
in  Waterbury,  but  afterward  removed  to  New  York.  I  do  not 
think  he  had  been  an  attendant  at  St.  John's  during  his  residence 
here.] 

Dec.  7,  1812 — [The  records  of  this  meeting  are  signed  by 
Ashley  Scott,  Clerk,  being  the  first  time  that  a  signature  is  affixed 
to  records  of  meetings.] 

April  18,  1814 — John  Cossett  petitioned  the  parish  to  make  a 
present  of  the  old  Bible  belonging  to  this  parish  to  the  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  living  in  the  towns  of  Columbia  and 
Waterbury  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Voted — [This  is  the  Bible  elsewhere  referred  to  as  having  been 
returned  from  Ohio  and  deposited  in  the  church.] 

June  1,  1814 — [Mr.  Barber's  resignation.] 

June  6,  1814 — Voted  to  apply  to  the  Episcopal  Society  at 
Gunntown  respecting  their  uniting  with  this  parish  in  employing 
Rev.  Mr.  Geer. 

Sept.  27, 1814 — Voted  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  confer 
with  Rev.  Mr.  Geer  for  the  purpose  of  settling  him  as  a  pastor  or 
hiring  him  to  preach  one  year  at  not  exceeding  $600,  provided  the 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

church  in  Gunntown  will  unite  with  us  and  pay  their  proportion  for 
one-quarter  or  one-third  of  the  time. 

Nov.  15, 1824 — Voted  to  appoint  a  Committee  to  confer  with  J. 
M.  L.  Scovill  and  others  relative  to  paying  for  the  bell. 

Monday,  Nov.  24,  1828— Voted  to  pay  Mr.  Samuel  Cook  thirty 
dollars  for  singing  the  ensuing  year.  [This  is  meant  for  any  expense 
connected  with  the  choir,  of  which  Mr.  Cook  was  leader.] 

August  27,  1825— Elijah  F.  Merrill  signs  the  record  of  the 
meetings  as  clerk. 

April  12,  1830 — Voted  to  accept  the  resignation  of  Rev. 
Alpheus  Geer  as  pastor  of  this  parish. 

July  19,  1830— Voted  that  it  is  the  wish  of  this  parish  to  give 
Rev.  Mr.  Barlow  an  invitation  to  settle  with  us.  Committee  ap- 
pointed with  power  to  offer  $500. 

Aug.  2.  Committee  appointed  to  enter  into  permanent  agree- 
ment with  Mr.  Barlow,  providing  it  can  be  done  by  paying  him 
a  salary  of  $500  per  year,  furnishing  him  with  suitable  dwelling 
house  free  of  rent  and  necessary  fire  wood,  provided  also  that 
should  it  so  happen  that  any  of  the  neighboring  parishes  should 
wish  to  have  him  part  of  the  time  he  should  be  under  obligation 
to  preach  for  them  should  this  Society  request  it. 

Monday,  Oct.  8,  1832.  Rev.  Mr.  Barlow  addressed  a  letter  to 
the  Society  saying  that  his  wife's  health  obliged  him  to  take  her 
South,  asking  for  leave  of  absence  during  the  winter,  he  to  supply 
the  pulpit,  and  asking  an  advance  of  salary  to  Dec.  1.  All  of 
which  was  granted. 

April  8,  1833— Voted  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morgan  be  invited  to 
officiate  as  clergyman  on  the  following  terms,  viz:  $500  a  year  sal- 
ary, with  the  privilege  of  leaving  at  any  time  on  giving  six  months 
notice,  the  parish  also  to  have  the  same  privilege. 

Feb.  20,  1833— Voted  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  super- 
intend the  proposed  alterations  (of  the  church  edifice)  and  author- 
ized to  contract  for  the  said  alterations  and  repairs  to  an  amount 
not  to  exceed  $700. 

March  31,  1834— Voted  that  the  Societies  Committee  be 
authorized  to  effect  an  insurance  on  the  church  not  exceeding 
$3,000. 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Aug.  25,  1834 — Voted  to  rent  the  slips  in  the  church  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  money  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  Society  tor 
the  ensuing  year. 

Dec.  10,  1835 — Voted  to  appoint  a  committee  to  purchase  an 
organ  and  make  the  necessary  change  in  the  gallery. 

Aug.  29,  1835 — Mr.  Morgan  gave  six  months  notice;  committee 
empowered  to  offer  Mr.  Morgan  $750  to  remain.  [It  is  worthy  of 
note  that  there  has  been  no  increase  of  salary  since  1807.] 

Sept.  4,  1836 — Committee  appointed  to  secure  the  services  of 
a  clergyman.  [Mr.  Morgan  had  accepted  the  charge  of  Cheshire 
Academy.] 

Jan.  28,  1837— Voted  that  the  Societies  Committee  be  author- 
ized to  correspond  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  on  the  subject  of 
becoming  our  rector  and  to  offer  him  $750  per  annum. 

Voted  to  contract  with  John  Rowley  as  organist  and  John 
Sandland  as  chorister. 

Sept.  1,  1838 — Voted  to  appoint  two  wardens  and  five  vestry- 
man, including  the  treasurer  and  secretary. 

Voted  that  the  rector  shall  be  chairman  of  the  parish  and 
vestry  meetings.  Voted  that  the  vestry  call  on  Rev.  J.  L.  Clark 
and  request  him  to  be  instituted  as  rector  of  St.  John's  Church 
at  such  time  as  may  be  convenient. 

Jan.  12,  1839 — Voted  that  an  addition  be  made  on  each  side 
of  the  church,  provided  the  money  can  be  raised  by  subscription. 

Nothing  appears  on  the  record  except  the  usual  formal  business 
until  Feb.  23,  1846— Voted  that  it  was  expedient  to  build  a  church 
if  funds  can  be  raised  by  subscription. 

1847,  March  8— Voted  that  the  parish  give  the  use  of  the 
ground  for  building  horse  sheds  to  those  persons  who  propose 
building  provided  they  are  built  in  a  manner  acceptable  to  the 
building  committee. 

Apr.  24,  1848 — At  any  meeting  of  the  vestry  for  transaction 
of  business  three  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

Letter  of  Consecration  from  Bishop  Brownell,  Jan.  12,  1848. 

May  24,  1850— Report  on  Waterville  Chapel  that  Mr.  Hotch- 
kiss  of  Birmingham  offered  to  build  it  for  $1800.  This  being 

100 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

more  than  the  subscription,  a  vote  was  passed  authorizing  an 
attempt  to  increase  the  amount. 

June  9,  1851— St.  Paul's,  Waterville,  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Brownell. 

June  10,  1851 — Convention  held  here. 

June  11,  1851 — Bishop  Williams  elected  Associate  Bishop. 

April  9,  1855 — Voted  that  the  wardens  and  vestry  make  such 
arrangement  for  ministerial  services  for  the  year  ensuing  as 
circumstances  may  render  expedient.  (This  action  was  taken  on 
account  of  having  given  Dr.  Clark  a  year's  vacation  but  the  fact 
does  not  appear  on  the  Parish  record.) 

Jan.  18,  1857 — Tower  blown  down. 

Apr.  15,  1857 — Committee  of  three  appointed  to  rebuild  the 
tower. 

May  18— Voted  to  build  of  stone  if  $5000.  can  be  raised,  [but 
it  could  not]. 

1858,  April  10 — Voted  increase  number  of  vestry  to  sixteen. 

Apr.  19,  1858— Voted  to  call  Rev.  J.  M.  Willey  as  assistant. 

June  8,  1858 — Annual  Convention  held  here. 

March  5,  1859 — Committee  appointed  to  rebuild  spire  of 
wood;  to  proceed  when  $4000.  shall  have  been  subscribed. 

June  27 — Committee  report  that  the  spire  will  cost  more  than 
they  supposed,  but  are  directed  to  proceed. 

March  8,  1862 — Rev.  John  Eaton  Smith  assistant  from  Easter. 

Oct.  17,  1864— Mr.  Smith's  resignation — Complimentary  reso- 
lutions adopted. 

1866,  April  2 — Rev.  F.  A.  Steele  appointed  assistant  minister. 

April  13,  1868 — Rules  for  elections,  etc.,  adopted. 

Dec.  24,  1868— Church  burnt. 

Dec.  30,  1868 — Mr.  Buckingham  offers  us  a  lot  for  temporary 
chapel,  rent  free,  which  is  accepted.  Vote  of  thanks  to  Congre- 
gational and  Methodist  Societies  for  use  of  churches.  March  8, 
1869 — Building  Committee  appointed. 

Mar.  29,  1869 — First  service  in  temporary  chapel. 

Mar.  8,  1869 — Committee  appointed  to  build  new  church. 

Mar.  16,  1869— A.  Ives  presents  organ— $10,000.  His  letter 
recorded  April  10,  1871. 

101 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

1870,  May  23 — Specification  and  Contract  for  new  church. 
Dec.  25,  1871 — G.    W.    Burnham    presents    bust    of    Bishop 
Brownell  and  chime  of  10  bells. 

1872,  Dec.  22 — Votes  as  to  new  parish. 

April  1 — Votes  complimentary  to  John  H.  Sandland  after 
forty  years  service  in  the  choir. 

December  29 — Complimentary  resolutions  to  T.  I.  Driggs 
for  service  as  organist. 

1873,  June  23 — Requests  for  consecration. 
June  24 — Consecration. 

1874,  April  12— Rector's  salary  fixed   at  $1800   and   house. 
(Assistants,    $2200    without    his    house    rent    was    afterward 
added.) 

1875,  May  29 — Rules  adopted  for  choosing  vestry. 

1875,  May  29— Complimentary  resolutions  to   J.   W.   Smith 
for  25  years  service  in  the  choir. 

1876,  January    31,    February    7 — Dr.    Bingham     called    as 
assistant. 

1876,  November  7 — Horse   and  carriage   presented  St.   Mar- 
garet's on  condition  that  Dr.  Russell  look  after  service  at  St. 
Paul's,  Waterville. 

June  13, — Convention  held  here. 

1877,  January  26— Dr.  Clark  died. 

April  2 — Dr.  Bingham  elected  rector. 

1877,  June  4 — Victor   Chateneuf    Smith,  assistant    minister. 
$250.  to  widow  and  $150.  to  sister  of  Rev.  Dr.  Clark  voted. 

April  25 — Offer  of  St.  John's  accepted  by  those  proposing  to 
form  new  parish. 

Deed  J.  F.  Bingham  to  St.  John's  accepted  Dec.  25,  1877. 
[Church  Home,  etc.] 

1878,  April  22— Rev.  V.  C.  Smith's  time  extended. 

1878,  May  13— Corporate  Seal  adopted,  "St.  John's  Parish, 
Waterbury,  Conn." 

June  3 — Rev.  John  H.  White,  assistant. 
November  10 — Rev.  John  H.  White  resigned. 

1879,  February  3— Testimonial    of    Frederick    R.    Sanford 
signed. 

102 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

1879,  April  25 — Rev.  Rob  Roy  McGregor  McNulty  appointed 
assistant. 

1880,  March  29 — Dr.    Bingham   requested   to   resign:   salary 
continued  and  rent  of  house  to  July  1.     Rev.  R.  R.  McNulty 
employed  to  continue  for  the  present. 

1880,  April  19 — A  vote  was  passed  authorizing  the  agent  of 
the  Parish  to  submit  its  claim  to  James  A.  Hovey,  a  judge  of  the 
Superior  Court,  to  $1000.  under  the  will  of  Sally  Ann  Sharp,  given 
by  her  to  the  "Old  Ladies  Home"  and  claimed  by  us  on  the 
ground  that  we  have  a  trust  fund  for  establishing  a  home  for 
indigent  females  and  there  is  no  other  similar  trust,  we  are  there- 
fore entitled  to  the  bequest.  (The  case  was  submitted  and 
decided  against  the  parish.) 

Voted  to  accept  from  Mrs.  Palmyra  Cotton  $1000  on  condition 
that  we  pay  her  interest  on  this  amount  during  her  life.  (She  lived 
to  be  102.) 

June  16 — Dr.  Bingham  presented  his  terms  of  resignation 
which  were  accepted. 

1880,  July  3 — Mr.  McNulty's  name  is  now  Converse — employed 
at  $1500  per  annum,  terminable  on  six  months  notice  by  either 
party. 

July  4 — Wardens  and  vestry  sign  testimonials  to  standing 
committee  for  Priests  orders  for  Rev.  R.  R.  Converse. 

1881,  May  15 — Testimonials  for  Priests  orders  to   Frederick 
R.  Sanford. 

1881,  April  18 — Rev.    R.    R.   Converse   unanimously  elected 
rector,  salary  $2000. — $700.  appropriated  for  assistant. 

1882,  April  10— $1100.  appropriated  for  music  and  $500.  for 
Mr.  Driggs  salary  and  all  musical  matters  left  in  his  hands. 

June  19 — $1250.  appropriated  for  music  and  management 
committed  to  T.  I.  Driggs. 

1882,  July  13 — Treasurer   authorized  to  execute  releases   of 
land  mortgaged  to  secure  Hall  funds  under  direction  of  Board  of 
Managers  of  said  funds. 

1883,  April  30— M.  K.  Bailey  employed  as  assistant  at  $600 
a  year  and  allowed  to  teach  at  St.  Margaret's. 

103 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Sept.  11 — Rev.  Mr.  Converse  resignation  accepted. 

December  18— Call  extended  to  Rev.  Edward  R.  Atwill,  D.D., 
of  Toledo,  Ohio.  He  declined. 

Voted  to  purchase  lot  on  State  Street  adjoining  church  prop- 
erty (horse  sheds). 

Oct.  22 — Voted  to  place  the  sidewalk  on  the  north  side  of  the 
church  outside  the  line  of  trees,  so  as  to  obviate  danger  from  snow 
slides  in  accordance  with  the  order  of  Common  Council. 

J.  C.  Booth  and  Mrs.  Olive  M.  Elton  present  lot  to  the  parish, 
corner  Church  Street  and  Center  Square. 

1884,  March  6— Dr.  Atwill  declines  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Lee  of 
Bristol,  Pa.,  called. 

Dr.  Bingham  requested  to  execute  a  release  of  his  interest  in 
parish  lands. 

1884,  April  14— Rev.    J.    W.    Lee    declines.     Rev.    Edmund 
Rowland,  D.D.,  invited.     $1250  appropriated  for  music. 

April  28 — Dr.  Bingham  gave  a  quit  claim  of  his  interest  in 
Church  Home  and  property. 

Committee  on  memorial  to  Dr.  Clark  report  that  they  have 
caused  to  be  erected  a  memorial  in  Riverside  Cemetery  at  $550. 
Cost  defrayed  by  subscriptions  of  St.  John's  and  Trinity.  Dr. 
Rowland  accepted  and  entered  on  his  duties  June  1,  1884. 

1885,  February  28 — Plans  for  rectory  submitted  and  approved. 
Rev.  M.  K.  Bailey  resigns. 

December  20 — Permission  granted  descendants  of  Rev.  James 
Scovil  to  place  tablet  to  his  memory  under  the  north  gallery. 

1886,  April  26— Rectory  reported  completed— cost  $15,943.98. 
May  3 — Treasurer  reports  Rectory  paid  for  and  parish  out 

of  debt. 

1887,  April  11 — Brownell    Monument    reported    moved — ex- 
pense $1468.20  including  redecoration  of  chancel. 

THE  CENTENARY,  APRIL  30,  1889. 

In  pursuance  of  proclamations  issued  by  Benjamin  Harrison, 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  Morgan  G.  Bulkeley,  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  in  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Right  Rev.  John  Williams,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop 

104 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  commemorative  exercises  were  held 
in  St.  John's  Church,  at  9  o'clock  A.M.,  April  30,  1889,  the  one 
hundredth  annivesrary  of  the  inauguration  of  George  Washington 
as  first  president  of  the  United  States.  After  appropriate  and 
impressive  religious  services,  Rev.  Edmund  Rowland,  D.D., 
Rector  of  St.  John's,  Rev.  W.  R.  Micou,  rector  of  Trinity,  and 
Rev.  F.  T.  Russell,  D.D.,  Rector  of  St.  Margaret's  School,  offici- 
ating, brief  but  comprehensive  addresses  were  made  by  the  pastors 
of  the  Protestant  churches  of  the  City,  and  by  several  citizens. 
The  church  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity  by  an  attentive  and 
intensely  interested  audience. 

The  following  is  the  order  of  exercises. 

Hymn  397— My  Hope  and  My  Fortress,  My  Castle. 
Special  Devotional  Service. 
Hymn  301. 

Remarks  by  the  Rector,  .  .  .  The  Rev.  Dr.  Edmund  Rowland. 
Address— The  Epoch  of  1789,  .  .  .  The  Hon.  F.  J.  Kingsbury. 
Address— Washington  as  a  Statesman,  .  .  The  Hon.  S.  W.  Kellogg. 

Hymn  326. 

Address — Washington  in  his  Domestic  Life,,  The  Rev.  J.  G.  Davenport. 
Address — Washington  as  a  Soldier,  .  .  .  The  Rev.  W.  P.  Elsdon. 
Address — Washington's  Religious  Character,  .  The  Rev.  A.  C.  Eggleston. 
Hymn  307. 

Address — Washington  as  a  Mason  .  .  .  Nathan  Dikeman,  Esq. 
Address— Washington  as  a  Churchman,  .  .  The  Rev.  F.  T.  Russell. 
Address— Washington  as  a  Chief  Magistrate,  .  The  Rev.  R.  W.  Micou. 
Hymn  309. 

Concluding  Prayers  and  Benediction,    .         .         .   Rector    of    St.     John's. 

N.  J.  Welton,  Parish  Clerk. 

1889,  May  3 — Resolutions  in  memoiy  of  Scovill  M.  Bucking- 
ham, 32  years  senior  warden. 

May  13 — Agreement  with  Mrs.  Eunice  T.  Booth  concerning 
pass  way. 

May  4— Charles  F.  Mitchell  elected  clerk. 

Church  Home  Fund  purchase  Mrs.  Buel's  lot. 

May  13 — N.  J.  Welton  elected  senior  warden,  vice  S.  M.  Buck- 
ingham, deceased.     E.  D.  Welton  elected  vestryman. 

105 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

May  13 — Agreement  as  to  passways  with  Mrs.  Eunice  T.  Booth. 

1890,  April  7 — Voted  to  rescind  all  license  to  erect  horse  sheds. 
Parish  House  authorized. 

1891,  July  11 — Dr.  Rowland  reports  having  agreed  with  Rev. 
J.  H.  McCrackan  to  act  as  assistant. 

1894,  July  11— Treasurer  authorized  to  receive  legacy  of  $5000 
from  Charles  Scott.  (Mr.  Scott  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Scott,  a 
member  of  St.  John's,  and  spent  his  early  life  here.  His  business 
life  was  mostly  in  Boston,  but  he  had  lived  for  some  years  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  died.) 

1894,  March  26 — Installing  of  chancel  organ  reported.     Cost 
$4274.20.     Candelabra  presented  by  H.  H.  Peck. 

1895,  April  15 — F.  J.  Kingsbury  elected  Junior  Warden. 
1897,  April  10— Vote  to  sell  Willow  Street  land.     Act  of  Legis- 
lature authorizing  same. 

1897,  April  19 — Vestry  authorized  to  convey  Church  property 
at  Waterville  to  St.  Paul's  Parish.  Report  of  sale  under  vote 
of  General  Assembly  of  one  and  one-quarter  acres  to  Geo.  H. 
Clowes  and  five  and  one-half  acres  to  Frederick  B.  Rice  of  Glebe 
land  (being  the  land  given  by  John  Judd,  April  19,  1745).  Con- 
vention held  here.  Rev.  March  C.  Mayo's  engagements  Easter 
1897-98-99. 

1900,  April  16— J.  S.  Elton  and  F.  J.  Kingsbury  having  offered 
to  erect  a  reredos  and  decorate  the  Chancel,  voted  to  accept  the 
same  if  $4000.  can  be  raised  to  do  other  necessary  repairs. 

1900.  April  16 — Mr.  Mayo  employed  another  year.  Permis- 
sion given  N.  J.  Welton  to  place  a  memorial  window  to  George 
L.  Welton  under  the  south  gallery,  he  being  at  the  time  of  his 
death  a  vestryman. 

June  14 — Rev.  John  Franklin  Carter  invited  to  the  assistant 
rectorship,  but  declined. 

July  31 — H.  H.  Peck  having  offered  to  repair  and  connect  the 
two  organs  electrically,  voted  to  accept  the  offer  provided  $7500 
can  be  raised  to  do  other  necessary  work.  [The  necessary 
amount  was  raised  and  the  work  done,  including  reredos  and 
chancel  mentioned  above.] 

106 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

July  31 — Rev.  John  N.  Lewis,  Jr.,  invited  as  assistant  rector; 
salary  $2000. 

August  21 — Accepted. 

December  7 — At  the  suggestion  of  assistant — Voted  that  the 
clergy  and  senior  warden  be  authorized  to  keep  the  church  open 
daily  during  such  hours  as  they  may  think  best. 

1901,  January  18 — Committee  on  envelope  system  reported 
favorably. 

1901,  April  8 — Resignation  of  Dr.  Rowland  accepted  and  he 
is  elected  rector  emeritus.     Rev.  John  N.  Lewis  elected  rector. 

1902,  Jan.  25— Rev.  Taliaferro  D.  Caskey  hired  for  three 
months. 

1902,  March  3— $2500  appropriated  for  music. 

May  6 — Authorized  rector  to  secure  Rev.  Morton  A.  Barnes  as 
assistant. 

May  12 — J.  S.  Elton  authorized  to  convey  land  in  Brooklyn 
district  to  City  of  Waterbury.  60  x  150  feet. 

1903,  January  18 — Changes  ordered  in  chancel  to  accommodate 
boy  choir. 

1903,  April  13 — Parish  Agent  authorized  to  convey  St.  Paul's, 
Waterville,  to  that  parish. 

Voted  that  the  Vestry  shall  be  sixteen  [Treasurer  and  parish 
clerk  to  be  ex-officio  members]  and  that  five  shall  be  a  quorum  if 
a  warden  is  present,  otherwise  a  majority.  Rector's  salary  made 
$3000  and  rectory. 

1905,  Feb.  8— Rev.  Mr.  Barnes  resigns. 

July — Rev.  Mr.  Miller  appointed. 

1906,  Jan.— Rev.  Mr.  Miller  resigns. 

March  10,— Voted  to  pay  Rev.  Mr.  Bennett  $140  per 
month  for  services  during  Easter. 

April  4 — $50  presented  to  Mr.  Dallas  for  assistance. 

VESTRY    RECORDS. 

1849,  Jan.  27— Vote  to  furnish  house  for  Dr.  Clark.  Minute 
of  cost  of  church  land  and  fixtures,  $35,060.43. 

107 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

1850;  March  1— Consent  to  chapel  at  Waterville.  Rector  to 
employ  assistant;  employed  Rev.  G.  W.  Home.  Dec.  9.  Home 
resigns. 

1851. — Rev.  E.  Jessup  appointed. 

1853— Rev.  C.  G.  Acly  assistant  at  Waterville. 

1854,  Aug.  8 — Dr.  Clark  resigns,  but  vestry  offers  a  vacation. 

1856,  Feb.  15— Mr.  Acly  resigns,  to  take  effect  at  Easter. 

1858,  March  19— Thos.  G.  Carver  elected  assistant.  Mr.  Willey 
appears  to  have  been  employed  by  a  committee  and  first  appears 
in  a  notice  in  the  record  Apr.,  1859. 

1861,  Dec.  14— Mr.  Willey's  resignation  accepted. 

1868,  Jan.  4 — Rev.  A.  F.  Steele  resigns — no  notice  of  his  ap- 
pointment. Dec.  24.  Church  burned.  At  a  meeting  of  Wardens 
and  Vestry,  voted  thanks  to  First  and  Second  Congregational, 
Methodist  and  Baptist  Churches  for  sympathy  and  kind  offers  of 
their  churches  for  holding  Christmas  and  other  services.  Dec.  30. 
Meeting  held  in  lecture  room  of  Methodist  Church. 

1872,  Jan.  9— Meneely  bells  received.  Dec.  29.  Driggs  re- 
signs organ  after  24  years. 

1873 — Front  seats  in  gallery  rented.  [The  seats  on  the  main 
floor  were  all  sold  and  more  needed.] 

1875,  July  25 — Voted  not  to  interpose  any  obstacles  in  case 
Mr.  Russell  sees  fit  to  accept  the  principalship  of  St.  Margaret's 
School. 

•    Easter  Monday,  April  22,  1878,  the  following  communication 
from  the  rector  was  read: 

To  the  Parishioners  of  St.  John's  Parish  in  Annual  Meeting  Assembled: 

Gentlemen: — I  transmit  herewith  my  annual  abstract  of  the  various 
charitable  accounts  which  are  kept  under  my  hand,  and  also  the  approximate 
inventory  of  the  moneys  and  property  held  by  me  and  by  the  parish,  in  trust 
for  the  St.  John's  Church  Home  and  Charity  Foundation. 

During  the  year,  acting  on  my  best  judgment,  and  with  the  advice  and 
concurrence  of  the  Trustees  named  in  the  27th  clause  of  the  will  of  the  late 
lamented  Mr.  S.  W.  Hall  and  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  John's 
Parish,  and  with  the  approbation  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  I  have  selected, 
purchased  and  conveyed  to  the  parish,  in  trust,  a  very  eligible  site  on  South 
Leonard  Street  (west  side)  for  the  future  buildings  of  the  Home  and  Charity 
Foundation  of  the  congregations  belonging  to  this  parish. 

108 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  CHURCH  RECORDS. 

As  will  appear  from  the  appendix  to  the  enclosed  inventory,  I  have  in  sub- 
scriptions conditional  and  otherwise  (besides  the  subscription  of  the  residuary 
legatees  of  Mr.  Hall,  based  upon  the  27th  clause  of  his  will,  which  subscription 
will  be  presented  and  read  to  the  meeting  by  the  Executors  of  that  will)  a  con- 
siderable amount  given  especially  for  the  erection  on  the  above  mentioned 
lots  of  a  suitable  chapel,  as  the  first  in  a  series  of  future  erections  to  include 
besides  the  Home  proper  with  its  chapel  for  the  accommodation  of  both  sexes, 
also  in  time,  an  orphanage  for  both  sexes,  and  a  creche  or  day-nursery,  with  the 
attendant  church  schools  and  a  general  church  hospital.  Besides  the  ground, 
(which  we  have)  this  will  eventually  involve,  in  the  cost  of  the  buildings  and 
in  funds  invested  for  its  support,  not  less  than  $100,000 — which  I  hope  and 
believe  will  be  realized,  though  we  may  not  see  the  day. 

The  amount  of  property  already  in  the  trust  of  the  parish;  the  invested 
funds  now  in  hand;  the  subscriptions  for  the  chapel  lying  on  call;  the  condi- 
tional subscriptions  on  Mr.  Hall's  legacy;  and  at  least  two  considerable  legacies 
still  future,  of  which  the  Rector  has  been  notified,  and  which  are  liable  at  any 
time  to  fall  in;  constitute  together  a  charge  so  important,  that  I  recommend 
and  request  the  appointment  by  the  parish  at  the  present  annual  meeting,  of 
a  committeee  of  two  or  three  to  carry  forward  in  conjunction  with  the  Rector, 
the  necessary  subscriptions  and  the  general  management  of  the  whole  trust. 
Respectfully  and  faithfully  yours, 

J.  F.  BINOHAM,  Rector. 
Easter  Monday,  A.  D.,  1878. 

Voted— That  F.  J.  Kingsbury,  Jas.  S.  Elton  and  John  C. 
Booth  be  appointed  a  committee  to  take  into  consideration  the 
propriety  of  the  parish  accepting  a  deed  of  certain  property  in 
trust  as  conveyed  by  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Bingham,  D.  D.,  by  deed  dated 
Dec.  18,  1877,  and  report  to  the  parish  some  proper  action  in  the 
premises.  Also  that  said  committee  advise  with  the  rector  as  to 
the  propriety  and  necessity  of  spending  any  considerable  amount 
of  money  in  buildings  as  indicated  by  the  rector's  report  to  the 
Parish. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  presented  and 
adopted: 

WHEREAS,  the  late  Samuel  W.  Hall,  by  his  last  will  made  several  bequests 
to  this  parish. 

Be  it  Resolved — That  the  clerk  of  this  parish  be  directed  to  enter  at  length 
upon  the  records  of  the  parish  the  several  clauses  of  the  will  relating  to  said 
bequests. 

Resolved — That  the  funds  bequeathed  be  known  as  "The  Hall  Repair 
Fund,' '  "  The  Hall  Library  Fund,' '  and  "  The  Hall  Fund  for  the  benefit  and 

109 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

relief  of  the  poor  of  the  parish,"  and  that  a  separate  account  be  kept  with 
each  of  said  funds,  so  to  be  known  and  designated. 

Resolved — That  for  the  proper  management  and  safe  keeping  of  said  funds, 
a  Board  of  managers  shall  be  appointed;  to  consist  of  the  senior  warden,  the 
treasurer  and  the  agent  of  the  parish  and  two  other  persons,  to  be  appointed 
at  the  annual  parish  meeting,  and  to  hold  office  until  their  successors  are 
appointed;  who  shall  have  the  care  and  management  of  said  funds  and  may 
authorize  one  or  more  of  their  number  to  draw  orders  on  the  treasurer  for  all 
or  any  portion  of  the  principal  or  interest  of  said  funds,  under  such  regulations 
as  they  may  prescribe,  except  where  otherwise  provided  in  said  will. 

And  said  board  may  deposit  any  portion  of  said  funds  in  any  incorporated 
bank  in  the  town  of  Waterbury,  or  in  any  savings  bank  in  this  State,  or  may 
loan  the  same  on  unincumbered  real  estate  of  double  the  value  of  said  loan, 
or  may  invest  the  same  in  bonds  of  the  United  States,  or  any  of  the  New 
England  States  or  of  the  State  of  New  York,  or  of  any  incorporated  city  or 
town  in  this  State. 

All  moneys  not  loaned  shall  be  in  the  care  and  custody  of  the  treasurer, 
who  shall  give  a  bond  to  the  acceptance  of  the  board  of  managers  in  the  sum 
of  ten  thousand  dollars. 

Resolved — That  all  mortgages  be  taken  in  the  name  of  the  parish,  and  that 
the  treasurer  of  the  parish  be  and  is  hereby  authorized  to  execute  in  the  name 
and  under  the  seal  of  the  parish,  releases  of  any  such  mortgages,  when  paid 
in  full. 

Resolved — That  said  board  shall  keep  a  record  of  their  doings  and  shall 
report  the  condition  and  accounts  of  the  funds  annually  to  the  annual  parish 
meeting. 

In  accordance  with  the  precedings  resolutions,  F.  J.  Kingsbury 
and  Jas.  S.  Elton  were  chosen  members  of  the  Board  of  Manage- 
ment. 


110 


CHAPTER  IX. 


REAL     ESTATE. 

THE  first  deed  of  land  for  the  church  was  the  church  lot, 
dated  April  20,  1743.  John  Judd  gives  the  deed  but  John 
Richardson  seems  to  have  had  some  interest  as  he  signs 
the  deed  with  Judd.  This  lot,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  West 
Main  and  North  Willow  Streets,  now  included  in  property  be- 
longing to  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Mitchell,  was  subsequently  enlarged 
by  a  release  of  the  land  within  five  feet  of  the  church  building  on 
the  north  and  east,  made  by  Joseph  Hopkins,  then  owner.  Novem- 
ber 23,  1797,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  sell  the  property  to 
Jesse  Hopkins,  son  of  Joseph,  and  the  church's  interest  in  this 
tract  was  closed.  The  deeds  showing  these  transactions  are 
given — A.  Al.  A.  2. 

[A] 

To  aU  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  Come,  Greeting :  Know  ye  that  I, 
John  Judd  of  Waterbury  in  the  County  of  New  Haven  and  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut in  New  England  for  the  consideration  of  twelve  pound  in  Money  in  hand 
Received  and  to  Accomodate  the  acting  up  of  A  Church  in  said  Waterbury 
Have  given  and  Sold  Granted  Aliened  and  Confirmed  unto  James  Brown, 
Richard  Welton,  Benjamin  Warner,  Moses  Bronson,  John  Barns,  Richard  Wei- 
ton  Jur.,  Robert  Johnson,  Jonathan  Prindle,  Nathaniel  Gunn,  Joseph  Bronson, 
and  George  Nichols,  and  to  others  of  the  Denomination  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land or  professors  thereof  and  to  then*  successors  in  Waterbury  A  piece  of  land 
to  be  taken  of  the  Southwest  Corner  of  my  Home  Lott  where  they  are  now 
Raising  A  Church  and  to  begin  att  the  Southwest  corner  of  my  Lott  and  to 
run  northward  in  the  line  twenty  eight  foot  then  to  run  Eastwardly  fifty  foot 
then  southwardly  thirty  nine  foot  then  Westwardly  forty  five  foot  to  the  first 
Corner  and  buts  Ea?t  and  North  on  my  own  Land  and  South  and  West  on 
the  Highway.  Which  piece  of  Land  so  taken  of  and  bounded  which  encom- 
passes the  House  and  A  piece  of  six  foot  wide  the  wedth  of  the  House  at  the 
East  End  I  hereby  make  it  over  to  the  above  sd  Grantees  and  their  successors 
and  others  of  the  professors  of  the  Church  of  England  in  sd  Waterbury  forever. 
To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  above  given  and  granted  Land  with  the  appurtenances 
thereof  unto  them  the  said  grantees  and  their  successors  forever  to  them  and 

111 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

their  own  proper  use  and  behoof  and  I  the  sd  John  Judd  do  hereby  assure  them 
that  I  have  full  power  to  despose  of  the  same  as  herein  I  have  done  and  that  it 
ie  free  of  all  incumbrances  whatsoever  and  John  Richason  doth  hereby 
freely  fully  and  absolutely  resign  all  his  right  and  title  in  the  Above  demised 
premises  to  the  above  sd  grantees  and  their  successors  as  above  and  we  the 
said  John  Judd  and  John  Richason  of  Waterbury  in  said  County  do  hereby 
Engage  to  warrant  and  defend  the  above  sd  grantees  and  their  successors  in 
the  Quiet  possession  of  the  premises  Against  All  Claims  whatsoever  in  confirma- 
tion whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  this  20'  day  of  April 
A.  D.  1743. 

Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered  in  presence  of 

JOHN  SOUTHMATD.        BENJAMIN  HARRISON. 

JOHN    JUDD  [L.  s.]        JOHN    RICHASON  [L.  s.] 

Waterbury  in  Connecticut  April  20th  1743  then  personally  appeared 
Ensign  John  Judd  and  John  Richason  that  signed  and  sealed  the  Above 
written  Deed  and  acknowledged  the  Signing  and  Sealing  there  of  to 
be  then-  free  Act  and  Deed. 

CORAM  JOHN  SOUTHMATD, 

Justice  of  peace. 

Received  and  Entered  April  20th,  1743 
A  true  record  of  the  Original  Deed. 
Test:    JOHN  SOUTHMAYD, 

Recorder. 

[Al] 

To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  Come,  Greeting:  Know  ye  that  I 
Joseph  Hopkins  of  Waterbury  In  New  Haven  County  in  ye  Connecticut  In 
New  England  upon  condition  and  in  Consideration  of  that  the  people  belonging 
to  the  Church  of  England  In  said  Waterbury  Make  and  maintain  one  half  of 
the  fence  that  is  necessary  to  Devide  the  Land  belonging  to  said  Church  of 
England  from  my  house  lot  have  Remised  Released  and  Quit  claimed  unto 
mesrs  John  Welton  Abraham  Hickox  &  David  Warner  as  they  are  Committee 
for  the  said  Church  of  England  and  by  these  presents  Do  for  myself  my  Heirs 
Executors  &  Administrators  so  long  as  the  condition  is  fulfilled  by  the  said 
Church  of  England  Remise  Release  and  Quit  Claim  all  my  Right  Title  and 
Interest  in  the  land  lying  North  and  East  of  the  meeting  house  or  Church 
belonging  to  said  people  In  Waterbury  aforesaid  that  is  to  say  all  the  Lands 
within  five  feet  of  said  house  unto  the  said  Welton  Hickox  and  Warner  to  be 
by  them  and  their  successors  In  quallity  of  Committee  quietly  possessed  and 
enjoyed  forever  without  any  Demand  from  me  or  my  successors  or  by  any 
person  by  my  means  or  procurment  but  I  and  they  shall  be  forever  Debarred 
and  Excluded  therefrom  by  virtue  of  these  Presents  In  Witness  whereof  I  have 
hereunto  Bet  my  hand  and  seal  this  sixth  Day  of  March  in  the  4th  year  of  the 

112 


REAL  ESTATE 

Keign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  3d  of  Great  Britain  &c.  King  A.  D. 
1764. 

Signed  Sealed  &  Delivered  JOSEPH  HOPKIHNS  [L.  a.] 

In  presence  of  New  Haven  County  SS  Waterbury  the  Day 

THOMAS  CLARK    ESTHER  CLARK  and  Date   above  written 

personally  appeared  Joseph  Hopkins 
ye  signer  of  the  forgoing  instrument 
and  acknowledged  ye  same  to  be  his 
free  act  &  deed  before  me 

THOMAS  CLARK, 
Justice    of    peace. 
Entered  In  Waterbury  Decemr  9,  1764 

A  true  record  of  ye  Original  Deed 
Test:  THOMAS  CLARK,  Recorder. 

March  6th,  1797.— At  an  adjourned  Meeting  of  the  first  Episcopal  Society 
in  Waterbury  Messrs.  Richard  Welton,  Elijah  Richards,  Seba  Bronson  &  John 
Cossett  was  appointed  a  Committee  to  sell  the  old  Church  and  the  ground  on 
which  said  church  stands,  Certified  and  signed    -----        - 

JAMES    SCOVIL,    Societys    Clerk. 
[A  2] 

To  all  people  to  whom  presents  shall  come,  Greeting: — Know  Ye  that  we  the 
aforesaid  Committee  in  consequence  of  our  appointment  and  in  behalf  of  sd 
Society  John  Cossett  Seba  Bronson  Elijah  Richards  &  Richard  Welton  all  of 
Waterbury  in  New  Haven  County  &  State  of  Connecticut  for  the  consideration 
of  Two  Hundred  and  fifty  Dollars  in  hand  received  to  our  full  satisfaction  of 
Jesse  Hopkins  of  Waterbury  aforesaid  Do  give  grant  bargain  sell  and  confirm 
unto  the  said  Grantee  a  certain  piece  of  land  in  the  first  society  in  sd  Water- 
bury  situate  at  the  southwest  Corner  of  Esqr.  Hopkins  house  lot  containing 
about  sixteen  Hundred  feet  be  it  more  or  less  the  description  of  said  land  may 
be  seen  in  Waterbury  records  book  5th  page  452  reference  thereunto  being 
had  said  land  was  deeded  by  Messrs.  John  Judd  and  John  Richardson  to  the 
Church  of  England  so  called  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  Church  house.  To 
have  and  to  hold  the  above  described  land  with  the  old  Church  standing  thereon 
and  all  other  privileges  thereuto  belonging  to  him  the  said  Grantee  his  heirs  and 
Assigns  forever  unto  his  and  their  own  proper  use  and  behoof.  And  also  We 
the  Grantors  do  for  ourselves  and  our  successors  in  said  capacity  covenant 
with  the  said  Grantee  his  heirs  and  assigns  that  and  until  the  ensealing  these 
presents  we  are  well  seized  of  the  premises  as  a  good  indefeasable  estate  in 
fee  simple  and  have  good  right  to  bargain  and  sell  the  same  in  manner  and 
form  as  is  above  written  and  that  the  same  is  free  of  all  incumbrance  Whatso- 
ever and  furthermore  We  the  said  Grantors  do  by  these  presents  bind  our 
selves  and  our  successors  in  sd  Capacity  to  warrant  and  defend  the  above 
granted  and  bargained  premises  to  him  the  said  grantee  his  heirs  and  assigns 

113 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

against  all  claims  and  demands  whatsoever.  In  Witness  whereof  We  have 
hereounto  set  our  hands  and  seals  the  23rd  Day  of  November,  A.  D.,  1797, 
signed  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of 

NOAH  BALDWIN       \  New  Haven  County  ss.  Wa-    f  JOHN  COSSETT  [SEAL]. 
JOHN  KINGSBURY     J  terbury  on  the  23rd  Day  of      \  SEBA  BRONSON  [SEAL]. 

November,  A.  D.,  1797,  per-    f  RICHARD  WELTON  [SEAL 
sonally  appeared  Messrs.  John    \  ELIJAH  RICHARDS[SEAL].- 
Cossett  Seba  Bronson  &  Rich- 
ard Welton,  signers  and  sealers 
of  the  within  written  Instru- 
ment and  acknowledged  the 
same  to  be  their  free  act  and 
deed,  before  me. 

Rec'd  to  record  Nov'r.  25th,  1797. 
A  true  record     Test 

JOHN  KINGSBURY,  Reg'r  JOHN  KINGSBURY,  Just.  Peace. 

New  Haven  County  ss.  Waterbury  on  the  24th  Day  of  Nov'r  A.  D.,  1797, 
personally  appeared  Mr.  Elijah  Richards  signer  &  sealer  of  the  within  written 

instrument  and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be  his  free  act  and  Deed before 

me 

JOHN  KINGSBURY  Just.  Peace. 
From  Waterbury  Land  Records,  Volume  25,  page  492. 

The  second  piece  was  given  by  Oliver  Welton  when  yet  a 
minor,  with  approval  of  his  guardian,  John  Southmayd,  deed 
dated  February  11,  1744-5. 

TO    ALL   PEOPLE    TO    WHOM    THESE    PRESENTS    SHALL    COME,    GREETING: 

Know  ye  that  I  Oliver  Welton  with  consent  of  my  Guardian  John  Southmayd 
both  of  Waterbury  In  the  County  of  New  Haven  and  Colony  of  Connecticut 
In  New  England  for  the  consideration  of  Sixty  five  pound  money  of  the  old 
Teanour  to  Mee  Secured  to  be  paid  by  Doctor  Benjamin  Worner  Jonathan 
Prindle  James  Brown  Nathaniel  Gunn  Joseph  Bronson  and  Ebenezer  Worner 
all  of  Said  Waterbury  And  professors  of  the  Church  of  England  Have  Given 
Granted  bargained  sold  Aliened  and  made  Over  unto  them  and  their  Succes- 
sors of  the  Church  of  England  In  Said  Waterbury  as  A  Gleeb  for  the  use  of 
the  Church  forEver  two  Acres  of  Land  in  sd  Waterbury  and  was  Originally 
John  Welton  Snr.  House  Lott  and  Is  bounded  to  the  East  on  Edmund 
Scotts  House  Lott  to  the  West  on  the  sd  Southmayds  House  Lott.  North 
and  South  on  Highways  which  piece  of  land  be  It  more  or  less  than  two  Acres 
as  It  lies  buted  and  bounded  I  hereby  maKe  It  over  unto  the  Sd  Grantees 
and  their  Successors  to  ly  for  the  Above  Said  use  as  A  Gleeb  for  Ever.  To 
Have  and  to  Hold  the  Above  Given  and  Granted  premises  with  all  the  privil- 
lidges  Appurtenances  and  Commodities  thereon  or  there  unto  belonging 
as  Glebe  Land  for  the  use  and  behoof  of  Sd  Church  for  Ever.  And  I  the  Sd 

114 


REAL  ESTATE. 

Oliver  Welton  with  the  Consent  of  my  SD  Gaurdian  do  promise  and  Engage 
to  and  with  the  Sd  Grantees  and  their  Successors  that  I  am  the  Lawful  owner 
Of  the  Above  Granted  premises  and  that  the  Same  Is  free  from  Any  Other 
Incumberances  Whatso  Ever.  Hereby  Assuring  them  that  they  may  use 
and  Improve  the  Same  In  manner  and  form  of  Glebe  Lands  with  out  Any 
Let  or  molestation  from  me  or  my  Heirs  or  Successors  or  Any  Other  person 
what  so  Ever.  And  furthermore  I  the  Sd  Oliver  Welton  with  the  Consent  of 
my  Gaurdian  do  Warrant  the  Same  to  the  use  Above  Sd.  Against  All  Claim- 
ers  What  so  Ever,  and  we  do  Also  promise  to  do  What  may  be  further 
Neccessary  to  be  done  for  the  sure  making  of  the  premises  to  the  use  above 
Sd  Namely  for  Aglebe  to  ly  for  the  use  of  Sd  Church  for  Ever.  In  consider- 
ation hereof  We  Set  our  hands  and  Seals  Feb.  llth  1744-5 
Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered  In  presence  of 

SAM'LL.  HICKCOX.  OLIVER  WELTON  [SEAL] 

THOMAS  BARNS.  JNO.  SOUTHMAYD  Gaurdian  [SEAL] 

Waterbury  February  llth  Day  A.D.1744.5  then  personally  Appeared 
the  Signers  and  Sealers  of  the  Foregoing  Deed  or  writing  and  Acknowledged 
the  Same  to  be  their  free  Act  and  Deed,  before  me 

SAM'LL.  HICKCOX 

Justice  of  peace. 

Received  And  Entered  February  llth  1744-5. 
A  true  Record  of  the  Original  Deed. 

Attest:  JOHN  SOUTHMAYD    Recorder. 
Volume  5  Page  549. 

This  deed  he  confirmed  after  coming  of  age,  December  17, 
1745. 

To  All  people  to  whom  these  presents  Shall  Come  Greeting  Know  ye  that 
I  Oliver  Welton  of  Waterbury  In  New  Haven  County  In  Connecticut  haveing 
formerly  Given  a  Deed  With  the  Consent  of  my  Gaurdian  John  Southmayd  of 
Sd  Waterbury  of  two  Acres  of  Land  In  Sd  Waterbury  to  Several  persons  in 
Sd  Waterbury  for  a  Glebe  as  Appears  by  A  Deed  Lawfully  Exicuted  and  on 
Record  In  Waterbury  Records  fifth  Book  page  549  which  Deed  being  thought 
Insufficient  because  at  the  Exiuting  of  Sd  Deed  I  was  not  of  Lawful  Age. 
Now  being  of  Lawful  Age  and  for  the  more  Sure  Making  of  the  premises  unto 
the  Grantees  therein  Named  and  for  the  Consideration  there  in  Mentioned 
do  Give,  Grant  bargain  Sel  and  Confirm  unto  them  the  Said  Banjamin  Worner 
Jonathan  Prindle  James  Brown  Nathaniel  Gunn  Joseph  Bronson  and  Ebenezer 
Worner  all  of  Sd  Waterbury  And  professors  of  the  Church  01  England  In 
Sd  Waterbury  And  to  their  Scucessors  for  the  use  of  the  Said  Church  for  Ever 
two  Acres  of  Land  In  Sd  Waterbury  which  was  Originally  John  Welton  Ser.s 
House  Lott  and  Is  bounded  to  the  East  on  Edmund  Scotts  House  Lott  to 
the  West  on  John  Southmayds  House  Lott  North  and  South  on  Highways 
which  two  Acres  Above  described  be  it  a  little  more  or  less  than  two  Acres 

115 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

as  It  lies  buted  and  bounded  I  here  by  Make  It  over  unto  the  Above  Sd 
Grantees  and  their  Successors  to  ly  for  the  Above  Sd  use  as  A  glebe  for  Ever. 
To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  Above  Given  and  Granted  premises  with  All  the 
privilidges  Appurtenances  and  Commodities  there  on  Or  there  unto  belonging 
as  Glebe  Land  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Sd  Church  for  Ever.  And  I  the  Sd 
Oliver  Welton  do  Now  promise  to  And  With  the  Said  Grantees  and  their 
Successors  As  Above  that  I  am  the  Lawful  owner  of  the  Above  Granted 
premises  and  that  the  Same  is  free  of  any  Other  Incumberance  Whatso  Ever 
Hereby  Assureing  them  that  they  may  now  use  And  Improve  the  same  In 
Manner  and  form  as  Above  Sd  without  Any  Let  or  molestation  from  me  or 
my  Heirs  or  Any  Other  person  Whatso  Ever  and  Furthermore  I  the  Sd  Oliver 
Welton  do  now  further  warrant  the  Same  to  the  Said  Grantees  to  the  use 
Above  Sd.  Against  All  Claimers  What  so  Ever  and  It  must  be  understood 
that  what  I  have  now  Done  is  only  A  Further  Ratification  and  Confirmation 
of  my  Former  Deed  and  to  Make  this  binding  to  my  Self  and  Heirs  and  Suc- 
cessors for  the  Sure  Holding  of  the  premises  I  have  here  unto  Set  my  hand 
and  Seal  this  15th  Day  of  December  Anno  Dom.  1745. 

OLIVER  WELTON,        [SEAL.] 

Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered  in  )  Connecticut  ss.  Waterbury  In  N.  Haven 
presence  of  )  County  on  the  Day  and  Date  Above  then 

JNO.  SOUTHMAYD.  )  personally  Appeared  Oliver  Welton  that 

THOMAS  WELTON.  )  Signed  and  Sealed  the  Above  Written 

)  Deed  and  Acknowledged  the  Same  to  be 
Received  and  Entered  December  )  his  free  act  and  Deed  Coram. 
15th,  1745.  )  JOHN  SOUTHMAYD 

A  true  Record  of  the  Original        )  Justice  of  Peace. 

Deed.     Test.  Jno.  Southmayd 

Recorder. 
Volume  6  Page  60. 

This  land  was  about  where  the  house  of  the  late  Franklin  L. 
Curtiss  stands  and  probably  a  part  of  Mrs.  Partree's  lot,  was 
eight  rods  front  on  West  Main  Street  and  ran  through  to  Grand 
Street  and  was  estimated  at  about  two  acres.  March  25,  1747, 
this  land  was  conveyed  by  the  committee  to  whom  it  had  been 
deeded  (together  with  three  other  pieces)  to  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  At  first  I  was 
puzzled  by  this  trust  to  the  S.  P.  G.,  but  I  find  that  Blackstone 
says,  Vol.  II,  p.  337,  after  having  spoken  of  various  modifications 
of  the  law  of  trusts,  and  of  the  Statute  of  uses:  "The  trustee 
is  considered  as  merely  the  instrument  of  conveyance  and  can 
in  no  shape  affect  the  estate  unless  by  alienation  for  a  valuable 

116 


REAL  ESTATE. 

consideration  to  a  purchaser  without  notice,  which,  as  the  cestui 
que  use  is  generally  in  possession  of  the  land  is  a  thing  that  can 
rarely  happen"  So  that  it  would  seem  that  the  English  law 
would  pass  even  the  legal  title  to  the  rector  so  soon  as  he  was 
instituted,  and  by  a  statute  passed  in  1784  this  particular  sort 
of  trust  seems  to  have  been  fully  provided  for  so  that  there 
seems  no  question  as  to  the  rights  of  the  Society  to  convey. 

This  piece  with  a  tract  of  some  six  acres  subsequently  ac- 
quired, was  leased  by  a  Committee  of  St.  John's  Parish,  April  19, 
1804,  for  990  years  to  Justus  Warner. 

This  is  the  Statue  of  1784. 

ESTATES  GIVEN  FOR  THE  SUPPORT  OF  MINISTRY,  HOW  TO  BE 
IMPROVED. 

THEREFORE,  Be  it  further  enacted  by  the  Authority  aforesaid,  That  where 
there  are  any  Lands,  Monies,  or  other  estates  granted,  given  or  sequestered, 
according  to  ancient  Custom,  Usage  or  Practice,  or  shall  hereafter  be  given, 
granted  or  sequestered  for  the  Use  and  Support  of  such  ministry  in  any  Town 
or  Society  in  this  State,  then  and  in  every  such  Case,  the]Selectmen  for  the 
Time  being,  of  such  Town  where  there  is  but  one  Ecclesiastical  Society;  and  the 
Committees  for  the  Time  being,  of  such  Ecclesiastical  Societies;  as  have  been,  or 
shall  be  Constituted  by  this  Assembly:  or  a  Committee  appointed  by  such 
Town  or  Society,  (which  Committee  they  are  hereby  respectively  impowered  to 
that  End  to  appoint)  shall  have  Full  Power  and  Authority  to  demand,  recover, 
receive,  take  care  of,  and  Improve  all  such  Lands,  Monies,  or  other  Estates,  to, 
and  for  the  Use  and  Support  of  such  Ministry  settled  in  such  Town  or  Society, 
which  they  respectively  represent  according  to  the  true  Meaning,  Intent 
and  Design  in  such  Grants,  donations,  or  Sequestrations  contained:  and  for 
their  improvement  thereof,  and  of  the  Increase,  Profits  and  Interests  thereof 
to  be  accountable  from  Time  to  Time  in  such  Town  or  Society  as  they  respect- 
ively represent. 

The  third  piece  is  of  seventeen  and  one-half  acres  in  the  Park, 
from  Jonathan  and  Daniel  Scott,  March  6,  1744-5.  This  was 
deeded  with  the  others  to  the  S.  P.  G.  and  still  remains  in  pos- 
session of  the  Parish. 

To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  Come,  Greeting: 

Know  ye  that  We  Benjamin  Warner,  James  Brown  Nathaniel  Gunn  Jona- 
than Prindle  Joseph  Brounson  and  Ebenezer  Warner  all  of  Waterbury  In  the 
County  of  New  Haven  and  Colony  of  Connecticut  In  New  England  for  and  In 

117 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Consideration  of  the  sum  of  Seven  Hundred  pound  old  tenour  money  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut  well  and  truly  paid  by  Richard  Welton  and  Sundry 
Other  persons  who  are  professors  of  the  Church  of  England  the  Recopt  where 
of  We  do  hereby  Acknowledge  and  are  there  with  fully  Satisfied  and  Con- 
tented Have  and  do  by  these  presents  with  the  advice  and  Concurrence  of  the 
Rest  of  our  Neighbours  Here  in  Concerned  all  professors  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land do  hereby  Give  and  Grant  the  following  peices  and  Parcels  of  Land  here 
After  Expressed  Intending  the  Same  for  the  first  Glebe  Lands  to  Endow  A 
Certain  Parrish  Church  In  the  Town  ship  of  sd  Waterbury  Erecting  and  Carry- 
ing on  for  the  better  Accomplishing  the  Endeavours  Afore  sd  In  great  reverence 
and  Regard  to  the  Church  of  England  as  Established  by  Law  and  her  Excellent 
Doctrine  Service  Unity  and  Order  preferable  to  Any  Other  upon  Earth  for  the 
Honour  of  God  the  Surest  peace  and  Comfort  of  our  selves,  Neighbours  and 
Posterity,  Have  founded  the  parrish  Church  Aforesaid  for  the  use  Aforesaid,  and 
for  the  Endowment  there  of  do  by  these  presents  freely  Give  Grant  Convey 
and  Confirm  unto  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  In  Foreign  parts 
the  following  peices  and  Parcels  of  Land  and  buildings  all  lying  in  Said  Water- 
bury  that  is  to  say,  Two  Acres  of  Land  In  said  Waterbury  with  A  house  and 
fruit  trees  upon  it  bounded  North  and  South  on  Highways  West  on  John 
Southmayds  House  Lott  and  East  on  Edmund  Scott  deceased  His  House  Lott, 
and  Six  Acres  and  three  Quarters  North  of  the  Town  bounded  South  on  Eben- 
ezer  Brounsons  Land  North  on  John  Southmayd  Land  west  on  the  Highway 
by  the  Common  Fence  East  on  Jno  Judds  Land  also  Nine  acres  and  fifty  Eight 
Rods  of  Land  on  the  West  Side  of  the  River  a  record  of  which  peice  of  Land 
may  be  seen  In  Waterbury  Records  3d  book  page  326  Also  seven  teen  Acres 
and  half  of  Land  In  Said  Waterbury  on  the  West  Side  of  the  River  Laid  out 
February  15th,  1721,  and  Entred  In  Waterbury  Records  First  Book  page  361, 
where  the  Land  is  fully  Described  which  severall  peices  of  Land  with  the 
House  and  All  other  Appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  we  the  Above 
Grantors  do  hereby  make  It  over  to  Said  Society  and  their  successors  for  Ever 
but  In  trust  and  for  the  Special  Intrest  and  purpose  hereafter  mentioned,  to 
say  as  soon  as  there  Shall  be  A  Rector  according  to  the  order  of  the  Church 
of  England  by  Law  Established  Instituted  and  Inducted  the  premises  shall 
be  and  Enure  to  the  use  of  Such  Rector  In  Cumbent  and  his  Successors  as 
the  Glebe  Lands  of  the  Said  Church  In  Fee  Simple  for  Ever  In  Confirmatcion 
of  the  Within  given  and  granted  premises  we  the  within  grantors  have  hereunto 
Set  our  hands  and  Seals  the  twenty  fifth  day  of  March  In  the  20th  year 
of  the  Reign  of  our  Soveraign  Lord  George  the  Second  of  great  brittain  &c. 
King  Anno  Domini  1747. 

JAMES  BROWN  [SEAL]  NATHALL  GUNN  [SEAL] 

JOSEPH  BROUNSON  [SEAL]         JONATHAN   PRINDLE  [SEAL] 
EBENEZER  WARNER  [SEAL] 

Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered  In  prence 

of  Jno  Southmayd  Melicent  Southmayd 

118 


REAL  ESTATE. 

Received  and  Entred  Aprill  18  1747  Connecticut  ss.  Waterby  In  N  Haven 
A  true  Record  of  the  Original  deed  County  on  the  day  and  date  Above  then 
Test:  JNO  SOUTHMA YD  Recorder.  personally  appeared  Measures  James 

Brown  Nathll  Gunn  Joseph  Brounson 
and  Jonathan  Prindle  and  on  the  18th 
day  of  Aprill  1747  then  Appeared  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Warner  the  Above  Signers 
and  Sealers  and  Acknowledged  the 
Same  to  be  then-  free  Act  and  deed 
Coram  Jno  Southmayd  Justice  of  peace, 
from  Waterbury  Land  Records  Volume  6,  page  195. 

The  fourth  and  fifth  pieces  are  six  and  three-quarters  acres 
on  the  east  side  of  North  Willow  Street  and  nine  acres,  fifty- 
eight  rods  lying  west  of  the  old  town  plot  lots;  the  first  being 
given  by  John  Judd  and  the  second  by  Thomas  Barns,  but  both 
in  the  same  deed,  dated  April  19,  1745. 

JOHN  JUDD  AND  THOMAS  BARNS  DEED. 

Vol.  6  p  4,  Apr  19,  1745.  John  Judd  and  Thomas  Barns,  in  consideration 
of  £21  to  Judd  &  £28  to  Barns  Old  tenor  to  Benjamin  Warner,  Joseph  Bronson 
and  Jonathan  Prindle  and  to  then:  successors  professors  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  said  Waterbury  as  a  glebe  for  use  the  of  sd  church  in  said  place 
for  ever,  two  pieces  of  land  in  said  Waterbury  in  the  following  manner,  John 
Judd  6  acres  &  3  qrs.  lying  north  of  the  town  by  the  highway  that  goes  by  the 
Common  fence  and  lies  above  Ebenezer  Bronsons  and  to  be  taken  off  the  north 
end  so  as  to  make  6$  acres  and  bounded  South  on  Mr.  Ebenezer  Bronsons 
land,  west  on  highway,  North  on  Mr.  John  Southmayds  land  and  East  on 
my  own  land  and  by  Thomas  Barns  9  a  &  58  rods  W  of  the  river. 

Both  these  parcels  were  included  in  the  deed  to  the  S.  P.  G. 

The  nine  acres  and  fifty-eight  rods  was  leased  by  a  committee 
of  the  Society  to  Reuben  Adams  for  nine  hundred  and  ninety 
years,  April  19,  1784. 

This  Indenture  or  lease  made  &  executed  by  and  between  Richard  Welton 
John  Clark  and  Obadiah  Warner  Committee  of  the  first  Episcopal  Society  in 
the  town  of  Waterbury  in  New  Haven  County  for  and  in  behalf  of  sd  Society 
of  the  one  part  and  Reuben  Addams  of  said  Waterbury  of  the  other  part  Wit- 
nesseth  That  the  said  Richard  Welton  John  Clark  and  Obadiah  Warner  in 
capacity  of  Committee  as  aforesaid  do  for  the  consideration  of  Two  hundred 
Dollars  reed  to  their  full  satisfaction  of  the  sd  Reuben  Addams  lease  out  and 
to  farm  let  unto  the  said  Reuben  Addams  and  unto  his  heirs  for  the  term  of 
Nine  Hundred  and  ninety  Years  from  the  date  hereof  one  certain  piece  of  land 
gituate  in  said  Waterbury  first  Society  a  little  Eastward  from  George  Prichards 

119 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

dwelling  house  containing  Nine  acres  be  it  more  or  less  Butted  northwardly 
and  westwardly  on  highway  southwardly  on  Timothy  Clark  in  part  and  partly 
on  David  darks  land  and  Eastwardly  on  David  Clarks  land  in  part  and  a 
small  distance  on  David  Prichards  land.  To  have  &  to  hold  the  above  letten 
and  leased  premises  with  all  the  priviledges  and  appurtenances  belonging  to 
said  leased  premises  for  and  during  sd  term  of  nine  hundred  and  ninety  years; 
the  sd  Lessee  taking  to  himself  all  the  Cropps  profits  and  Emoluments 
arising  from  the  sd  Letten  premises  during  sd  term  having  hereby  granted 
him  by  sd  Lessors  full  power  and  authority  to  use  occupy  possess  and  enjoy 
sd  Letten  premises  and  also  to  improve  the  same  as  he  shall  see  fit  without  any 
molestation  hinderance  or  impediment  from  sd  Lessors  or  from  sd  Episcopal 
Society  during  sd  term.  In  Witness  where  of  We  have  hereunto  set  our 
hand  and  affixed  our  seals  this  19th  day  of  April  A.  D.  1784. 
In  presence  of  RICHARD  WELTON  [SEAL] 

ELI  CLARK  1  JOHN    CLARK  [SEAL] 

JOHN  KINGSBXTRY  /  OBADIAH   WARNER  [SEAL] 

New  Haven  County  ss.  Waterbury  April  19th  1804  personally  appeared 
Messrs.  Richard  Welton  John  Clark  &  Obadiah  Warner  signers  and  sealers  of 
the  foregoing  Instrument  and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be  their  free  act  & 
deed  before  me. 

JOHN  KINGSBURY,  Just  Peace. 
Reed.  April  19th  1804  ] 

A  true  record  attest 
JOHN  KINGSBUBY,  Regr.          J 
from  Waterbury  Land  Records  Volume  28,  page  450. 

The  six  and  three-quarters  acres  were  sold  by  permission  of  the 
Legislature  under  a  vote  of  the  parish  in  1897  to  Frederick  B. 
Rice  and  George  H.  Clowes. 

Rev.  Seth  Hart  while  rector  purchased  about  six  acres  of 
land  extending  from  the  east  line  of  Church  Street  or  thereabouts 
to  the  east  line  of  the  old  rectory  lot  (Oliver  Welton's).  When 
Mr.  Hart  left,  this  tract  was  purchased  by  Justus  Warner  and 
Levi  Beardsley. 

May  18,  1795,  Justus  Warner  and  Levi  Beardsley  convey  to 
seventy-four  persons  this  land.  These  persons  were  probably 
members  of  a  so-called  Episcopal  Company,  which  seems  to  have 
been  a  voluntary  organization  having  a  constitution  and  by-laws, 
as  appears  from  their  deed  which  is  given  the  same  day  (May  18, 
1795),  to  the  wardens  and  principal  members  of  the  church  and 
Episcopal  Society,  of  this  same  propeity,  reserving  to  themselves 
the  use  or  interest. 

120 


REAL  ESTATE. 

Nothing  more  appears  on  the  records  in  regard  to  this  Episco- 
pal Company,  but  I  imagine  that  it  was  an  association  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  Mr.  Hart's  property  for  the  benefit  of 
the  parish,  but  in  some  way  dividing  the  expense  among  the 
members  of  the  parish  and  keeping  control  of  the  income  until 
the  matter  was  settled. 

To  all  People  to  whom  these  Presents  Shall  come,  GREETING: — Know  Ye 
that  We  Justus  Warner  and  Levi  Beardsley  of  Waterbury  in  the  County  of 
New  Haven  and  State  of  Connecticut  for  the  consideration  of  Two  Hundred 
and  Seventy  Pounds  lawful  Money  received  to  our  full  satisfaction  of  Messrs. 
John  Welton  Ard  Welton  Titus  Welton  Hezekiah  Welton  Benjamin  Welton 
Ephraim  Warner  Justus  Warner  Richard  Welton  Richard  F.  Welton  Mark 
Warner  EliakimWelton  Jun.  Josiah  Warner  Lemuel  Welton  Ard  Warner 
Richard  Welton  Junr.  Eben  Welton  Eliakim  Welton  3rd  John  Worthington 
Obadiah  Warner  David  Warner  Junr.  Thomas  Wiard  Benjamin  Benham 
Isaac  Benham  Levi  Beardsley  Joseph  Bronson  Obed  Bartholomew  Gad 
Bartholomew  Shadrach  Benham  Salmon  Brown  Elias  Brown  Noah  Brown 
Benjamin  Benham  Junr.  Widow  Mary  Bronson  John  Nichols  Simeon  Nichols 
James  Nichols  Samme  Nichols  Eleazer  Tompkms  Hezekiah  Todd  Joseph 
Terrill  Philip  Tompkins  Bethuel  Todd  Preserv'd  Porter  Reuben  Prichard 
Amos  Prichard  Jun  David  Porter  Ezra  Pierpont  Benjamin  Prichard 
Timothy  Porter  John  Cosset  John  Clark  James  Scovill  Zebulon  Scott  Simeon 
Scott  Justus  Scott  Joel  Hickcox  Jesse  Hickcox  Jonathan  Hughes  Abraham 
Heacox  Caleb  Munson  Nathaniel  Merrills  Samuel  Frost  Elijah  F  Merrills 
Edmund  Austin  Cornelius  Johnson  Junr.  Herman  Munson  William  Adams 
&  Nathaniel  Selkrig  all  of  the  Town  County  and  State  aforesaid— Do  give 
Grant  Bargain  Sell  and  confirm  unto  the  above  said  Grantees  and  unto  their 
Heirs  &  Assigns  forever  a  certain  piece  or  parcel  of  land  lying  a  little  South- 
westward  from  the  meeting  house  in  said  Waterbury  being  lately  occupied 
by  the  Revd.  Seth  Hart  containing  by  estimation  about  six  acres  be  the  same 
more  or  less  butted  and  bounded  as  follows  North  and  South  on  Highway. 
West  on  the  ancient  Glebe  so  called  and  East  on  the  land  of  Israel  Holmes 
together  with  a  house  and  barn  Standing  thereon 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  and  bargained  premises  with  the 
appurtenances  thereof  unto  them  the  said  Grantees  their  Heirs  and  assigns 
forever  to  their  own  proper  use  and  behoof  and  also  We  the  said  Grantors  do 
for  ourselves  and  Heirs  Executors  and  Administrators  covenant  with  the 
said  Grantees  and  then-  heirs  and  assigns  that  at  and  untill  the  ensealing 
these  presents  We  are  Well  seized  of  the  premises  as  a  good  indefeasable 
Estate  in  fee  simple  and  have  good  right  to  bargain  and  sell  the  same  in 
manner  and  form  as  is  above  written  and  that  the  same  is  free  of  all  incum- 
brances  Whatsoever — 

And  furthermore  We  the  said  Grantors  do  by  these  presents  bind  ourselves 

121 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

and  our  heirs  forever  to  warrant  and  defend  the  above  Granted  and  bargained 
premises  to  them  the  said  Grantees  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  against  all 
claims  and  demands  Whatsoever  In  Witness  Whereof  We  have  hereunto  set 
our  hands  and  seals  the  18th  Day  of  May  A.D.  1795  and  of  American  Inde- 
pendance  the  19th  Signed  Sealed  and  delivered 
In  presence  of 

PHINEAS  PORTER         ^  JUSTUS  WARNER  [SEAL] 

NEHEMIAH  HOTCHKIBS/  LEVI  BEARDSLEY  [SEAL] 

New  Haven  County  ss.  Waterbury 


Rec'd  to  record 

May  18th  1795 
A  true  record  Test 
JOHN  KINGSBURT  Register 


the  day  and  date  above  written  personally  ap- 
peared Justus  Warner  and  Levi  Beardsley  signers 
Sealers  of  the  foregoing  Instrument  and  acknowl- 
edged the  Same  to  be  their  free  act  &  Deed 
before  me 

PHINEHAS  PORTER  Juste.  Peace 

From  Waterbury  Land  Records  Volume  25  page  311. 

To  att  people  Nations  and  languages  of  whatsoever  denomination  or  pro- 
fession to  if  horn  these  presents  shall  come,  GREETING: — Be  it  Known  unto  you 
that  We  the  subscribing  persons  to  these  oresents  signed  by  our  hands  and 
sealed  with  our  Seals.  Do  jointly  as  a  protestant  Episcopal  Company  and 
Severally  in  our  individual  and  Select  capacity  for  the  reverence  and  veneration 
and  the  love  and  good  will  we  bear  to  the  Church  and  Episcopal  Society  in  the 
Town  of  Waterbury  in  New  Haven  County  and  State  of  Connecticut  and  their 
posterity  in  the  protestant  Episcopal  line  and  various  other  valuable  con- 
siderations us  thereunto  moving — Do  give  grant  bargain  Sell  and  confirm  unto 
Ephraim  Warner  and  Hermon  Munson  present  Wardens  for  sd  Church  and 
their  Successors  in  office  hi  Capacity  of  Wardens  and  to  John  Welton  Preserv'd 
Porter  John  Cosett  Benjamin  Benham  Seba  Johnson  Isaac  Benham  Justus 
Warner  Eliakim  Welton  John  Nichols  Caleb  Munson  Richard  Welton  Ard 
Welton  who  are  principal  Members  of  sd  Society  and  all  others  of  sd  Society 
and  their  heirs  and  successors  in  sd  Society  forever  the  following  tract  or 
parcel  of  land  (Viz)  all  that  Messuage  or  tenement  of  land  lying  and  being 
in  sd  Waterberbury  in  the  first  Society  a  Ititle  Southwest  of  the  Meeting  house 
late  the  property  and  in  the  occupancy  of  the  Revd.  Seth  Hart  and  is  butted 
and  bounded  as  follows  North  and  South  on  Highway  West  on  the  ancient 
Glebe  so  called  and  East  on  the  land  of  Israel  Holmes  together  with  a  house 
and  barn  Standing  thereon  containing  by  estimation  about  six  acres  be  the 
same  more  or  less  which  land  is  given  by  us  the  Subscribers  to  be  appropriated 
as  so  much  principal  estimated  at  two  Hundred  and  seventy  pounds  lawful 
Money  as  a  fund  for  sd  Society  sd  principal  to  continue  as  such  forever  The 
use  or  Interest  of  which  is  subject  to  the  controul  of  us  the  Subscribers  agree- 
able to  a  constitution  of  sd  Company  reference  thereunto  being  had — 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  granted  and  bargained  premises  with  the 

122 


REAL  ESTATE. 


appurtenances  thereof  unto  them  the  sd  Grantees  conditioned  as  aforesaid 
and  to  their  successors  and  heirs  as  aforesaid  forever  to  their  proper  use  and 
behoof  And  also  We  the  Subscribers  do  for  ourselves  heirs  Executors  and 
administrators  covenant  with  the  sd  Grantees  in  their  capacity  as  aforesaid 
that  at  and  untill  the  ensealing  these  presents  we  are  well  seized  of  the  prem- 
ises as  joint  Tenants  in  common  as  a  good  estate  in  fee  simple  and  have  good 
right  to  bargain  and  sell  the  same  in  manner  and  form  as  above  written  and 
furthermore  we  the  sd  Grantors  do  by  these  presents  bind  our  selves  and 
heirs  forever  to  warrant  and  defend  the  above  granted  and  bargained  premises 
to  them  the  sd  Grantees  in  manner  and  form  aforesaid  against  all  claims  and 
demands  whatsoever  in  Witness  Whereof  we  have  hereunto  Set  our  hands 
and  seals  this  14th  day  of  May  A.D.  1795. 
Signed  Sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of 


PHINEHAS  PORTER 
LEVI  BRONSON  2nd 
EBENEZER  HOADLEY 
JOHN  WELTON 
DAVID  BRONSON 

JOHN  WELTON 
ELIAKIM  WELTON 
JESSE  HICKCOX 
CALEB  MUNSON 
HERMON  MUNSON 
ELEAZER  TOMPKINS 
HEZEKIAH  TODD 
EDMUND  AUSTIN 
NATHANIEL  MERRILL 
ELIJAH  F.  MERRILL 
SIMEON  NICHOLS 
JOHN  COSSETT 
NOAH  BROWN 
JOHN  CLARK 
EPNM.  WARNER 
TITUS  WELTON 
ELIAKIM  WELTON  JTJNR. 
SIMEON  SCOTT 
JOEL  HICKOX 
JONATHAN  HUGHS 
RICHARD  WELTON  JUNR. 
OBED  BARTLOMEW 
JUSTUS  WARNER 
BENJ.  BENHAM  JUNR 


NEHEMIAH  HOTCHKISS 
EDWARD  SCOVILL 
POLLY  PHELPS 
JOSEPH  BERCH 


[SEAL] 

LEVI  BEARDSLEY 

[SEAL] 

EZRA  PIERPONT 

[SEAL] 

ARD  WELTON 

[SEAL] 

JNO.  NICHOLS 

[SEAL] 

PRESERV'D  PORTER 

[SEAL] 

SALMON  BROWN 

[SEAL 

BENJ.  BENHAM 

[SEAL] 

SHADRACH  BENHAM 

[SEAL] 

REUBEN  PRICHARD 

[SEAL] 

ELIAS  BROWN 

[SEAL] 

JOSEPH  TERRILL 

[SEAL] 

TIMOTHY  PORTER 

[SEAL] 

MARK  WARNER 

[SEAL] 

RICHARD  WELTON 

[SEAL] 

JAMES  NICHOLS 

[SEAL] 

BENJ.  PRICHARD 

[SEAL] 

JOSIAH  WARNER 

[SEAL] 

ABRAHAM  HICKOX 

[SEAL] 

BETHUEL  TODD 

[SEAL] 

EBEN  WELTON 

[SEAL] 

WILLIAM  ADAMS 

[SELL] 

DANIEL  PORTER 

[SEAL] 

NATHANIEL  SELKRIG 

[SEAL] 

PHILIP  TOMPKINS 

[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 


123 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


f  New  Haven  County  ss  Waterbury  the  Day  and  date  above  written  person  - 
1  ally  appeared  all  those  persons  who  have  above  and  within  set  their 
1  names  and  seals  to  the  foregoing  Instrument  and  acknowledged  the  same 
[  to  be  their  free  act  and  deed  before  me. 

PHINEHAS  PORTER  Juste,  Peace. 

[New  Haven  County  ss.  Waterbury  Deer.  12th  1796  personally  appeared 
I  Messrs.  Philip  Tompkins  Cornelius  Johnson  Jun  &  Sarnme  Nichols  signers 
[  and  sealers  of  the  foregoing  Instrument  and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be 
[their  free  act  &  deed  before  me  PHINEHAS  PORTER  Juste.  Peace 

New  Haven  County  ss.  Waterbury  on  the 
25th  Day  of  November  A.D.  1796  person- 
ally appeared  Messrs.  James  Scovill  Richard 
F  Welton  Thomas  Wiard  and  Joseph  Bron- 
son  signers  and  sealers  of  the  foregoing 
Instrument  and  acknowledged  the  same 
to  be  their  free  act  and  Deed  before  me 
PHINEHAS  PORTER  Juste.  Peace 


JAMES  SCOVILL  [SEAL] 

RICHARD  F.  WELTON    [SEAL] 
CORNELIUS  JOHNSON  JUNR. 

[SEAL] 

THOMAS  WIARD  [SEAL] 

JOSEPH  BRONSON          [SEAL] 


SAMUEL  FROST  [SEAL] 

MARY  BRONSON  [SEAL] 

BENJAMIN  WELTON  [SEAL] 

OBADIAH  WARNER  [SEAL] 

DAVID  WARNER  JUN.  [SEAL] 


New  Haven  County  ss  Waterbury  the  29th 
Day  of  November  1796  personally  appeared 
Mr.  Samuel  Frost  Mrs.  Mary  Bronson  signers 
and  sealers  of  the  foregoing  Instrument  and 
acknowledged  the  same  to  be  their  free  act 
and  deed  before  me 

PHINEHAS  PORTER  Just  Peace 


ARD  WARNER 
ZEBULON  SCOTT 
HEZEKIAH  WELTON 


[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 
[SEAL] 


New  Haven  County  ss  Waterbury  the  5th 
Day  of  December  1796  personally  appeared 
Messrs  Benjamin  Welton  Obadiah  Warner 
David  Warner  Junr.  Ard  Warner  Zebulon 
Scott  Hezekiah  Welton  Amos  Prichard  Junr 
Isaac  Benham  John  Withington  signers 
and  sealers  of  the  above  instrument  and 
acknowledged  the  same  to  be  their  free  act 
and  deed  before  me 

JOHN  WELTON  Justice  of  Peace 
From  Waterbury  Land  Records  Volume  25  pages  390,1,2 

This  Indenture  or  lease  made  and  executed  by  and  between  Richard 
Welton  John  Clark  and  Obadiah  Warner  Committee  of  the  first  Episcopal 
Society  in  the  town  of  Waterbury  in  New  Haven  County  for  and  in  behalf  of 
ad  Society  of  the  one  part  and  Justus  Warner  of  sd  Waterbury  of  the  other 

124 


AMOS  PRICHARD  JUNR.  [SEAL] 
ISAAC  BENHAM  [SEAL] 

JOHN  WORTHINOTON     [SEAL] 
SAMME  NICHOLS  [SEAL] 

Reed,  to  record  April  6th  1797 
A  true  Record  of  the  Origi- 
nal Deed  Test 
JOHN  KINGSBURY  Regr. 


REAL  ESTATE. 

part  Witnesseth  that  the  sd  Richard  Welton  John  Clark  and  Obadiah  Warner 
in  capacity  of  Committee  as  aforesaid  do  for  the  consideration  of  Thirteen 
Hundred  Eighty-three  Dollars  and  one-third  received  to  their  full  satisfaction 
of  the  said  Justus  Warner  do  lease  out  and  to  farm  let  unto  the  said  Justus 
Warner  and  unto  his  heirs  and  assigns  for  the  term  of  Nine  Hundred  and 
ninety  years  from  the  date  hereof  one  certain  piece  of  land  situate  in  sd  Water- 
bury  near  the  Episcopal  Church  containing  Eight  acres  and  three  quarters  be 
it  more  or  less  with  the  buildings  thereon;  Butted  as  follows  (Viz)  Eastwardly 
on  the  heirs  of  Israel  Holmes  in  part*  &  a  small  part  on  highway,  Northwardly 
on  highway  in  part  &  partly  on  Cyrus  Clarks  land  &  Abner  Hitchcock's  land, 
Westward  on  the  heirs  of  David  Taylor  &  south  wardly  on  highway. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  above  letten  and  leased  premises  with  all  the 
priviledges  and  appurtenances  belonging  to  said  leased  premises  for  and  during 
sd  term  of  nine  Hundred  &  ninety  years;  the  sd  Lesse  taking  to  himself  all 
the  Cropps  profits  and  emoluments  arising  from  the  sd  letten  premises  during 
sd  term  and  the  sd  Lessors  do  hereby  grant  to  him  the  said  Lessee  full  power 
and  Authority  to  use  occupy  possess  and  enjoy  sd  letten  premises  and  also 
to  improve  the  same  as  he  shall  see  fit  without  any  molestation  hinderance 
or  impediments  from  sd  Lessors  or  from  sd  Episcopal  Society  during  sd  term 
In  Witness  Whereof  We  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  affixed  our  Seals 
this  19th  day  of  April  A.D.  1804. 

In  presence  of  RICHARD  WELTON,  [SEAL] 

JOHN  KINGSBURY      \  JOHN  CLARK  [SEAL] 

WILLIAM  HOADLEY    /  OBADIAH  WARNER  [SEAL] 


Reed,  to  record 
May  7th,  1804 
A  true  record  Attest 
JOHN  KINGSBURY 
Register 


New  Haven  County  ss  Waterbury  May  7th  A.  D.  1804 
personally  appeared  Messrs.  Richard  Welton  John 
Clark  &  Obadiah  Warner  signers  and  sealers  of  the 
foregoing  Instrument  and  acknowledged  the  same 
to  be  his  free  act  and  deed  before  me 


JOHN  KINGSBURY  Justice  of  Peace 
From  Waterbury  Land  Records  Volume  28  page  451 

1804,  April  19— Richard  Welton,  John  Clark  and  Obadiah 
Warner,  as  a  committee  of  the  First  Episcopal  Society  of  the  town 
of  Waterbury,  lease  to  Justus  Warner  for  nine  hundred  and  ninety 
years,  all  the  land  which  the  parish  had  received  from  the  Episco- 
pal Company,  the  boundaries  being  given  somewhat  differently 
but  the  land  being  apparently  the  same,  also  the  glebe  land  given 
by  Oliver  Welton.  (This  lease  expires  in  2794.) 

1846,  June  8— James  M.  L.  Scovill  and  William  H.  Scovill 
deed  to  St.  John's  Parish  "a  piece  of  land  lying  in  the  town  of 
Waterbury." 

*  This  is  substantially  the  west  line  of  Church  street. 

125 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

"We  James  M.  L.  Scovill  and  William  H.  Scovill  of  Waterbury  in  New 
Haven  County  and  members  of  St.  Johns  Parish  of  S'd  Waterbury  in  consid- 
eration of  love  and  affection  which  we  have  for  said  Parish  and  to  the  intent 
that  said  Parish  may  be  furnished  with  a  Cite  whereon  to  erect  an  Edifice  for 
the  Worship  of  God,  do  remise,  release  and  forever  QUIT  CLAIM  unto  the 
said  Releasees  and  their  successors' '  a  piece  of  land  lying  in  the  Town  of  Water- 
bury  a  few  rods  Westerly  of  St.  Johns  church  [this  refers  to  the  church  when 
standing  on  the  west  end  of  the  green]  described  as  follows  (to  wit)  beginning 
at  the  North  East  corner  and  running  South  15°  West  five  rods  and  8  links 
to  the  North  East  corner  of  Widow  Nancy  Clarks  land;  thence  North  71°  West 
ten  rods  and  Twenty  one  links;  thence  South  21°  West  nine  Rods  and  18  links 
to  said  Nancys  south  west  corner;  thence  North  78°  West  four  rods  17  links  to 
Giles  Ives's  line;  thence  Northerly  in  said  Ives's  line  One  Hundred  feet;  thence 
south  78°  East  three  rods  17  links;  thence  Northerly  to  the  highway  line,  forty 
eight  feet  Westerly  of  the  Wall  of  the  Main  Building  of  the  church  which  said 
Parish  are  now  Building  on  said  land;  thence  Easterly  to  the  first  Corner  But- 
ting northerly  by  highway  and  on  Our  land  Easterly  by  highway  and  land  of 
said  Nancy  Clarke  Southerly  by  land  of  said  Nancy  and  Hiram  J.  White  and 
Westerly  by  land  of  Giles  Ives  and  on  our  own  land.  [This  includes  the  present 
church  site  and  the  horse  shed  lot.]  (Vol.  53,  p.  122,  June  8",  1846.) 

1858,  May  10 — J.  M.  L.  Scovill's  administrator  quit  claims 
to  St.  John  Parish  the  rectory  on  Leavenworth  Street.  [J.  M.  L. 
Scovill  seems  to  have  taken  the  title  to  this  property  in  1849, 
to  be  held  until  the  parish  could  pay  for  it,  and  after  his  death 
the  parish  took  the  deed  and  assumed  the  debt.  February  4, 
1886,  the  parish  conveyed  the  property  to  Mrs.  Olive  M.  Elton.] 

1883,  December  20— Olive  M.  Elton  and  John  C.  Booth  deeded 
to  the  Parish  the  present  rectory  lot,  north  fifty  feet  on  West  Main 
and  a  curved  line  ol  twenty  feet  at  the  corner,  west  one  hundred 
and  forty-six  feet  on  Church  Street,  south  sixty-two  and  one-half 
feet  on  John  M.  Bun-all's,  eastward  one  hundred  and  fifty-five 
feet  on  John  Kendrick's. 


126 


CHAPTER  X. 

CHURCH  OFFICERS,  ST.  JOHN'S  PARISH. 

(FIRST  CALLED  ST.  JAMBS'.) 
Was  Established  as  a  Mission  of  the  Ven.  S.  P.  G.  in  1737. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  built  in          .         ...     1743 
The  second  (consecrated  as  St.  John's)  in         ...     1797 

The  third  (burned  in  1868)  in          .         .                   .  .     1848 

The  fourth  in .  1873 

The  Rectory .  .     1885 

The  Parish  House .     1890 

RECTORS. 

Jonathan  Arnold about  1737-1739 

Theophilus  Morris, about  1739-1743 

James  Lyons, about  1744-1746 

Richard  Mansfield,  D.D., 1749-1759 

James  Scovil  (first  resident  Rector)  ,                 .  1759-1788 

Solomon  Blakeslee,         .         .         .         .      -   .         .  1789-1790 

Chauncey  Prindle, 1790-1790 

David  Foot,           . 1790-1791 

SethHart, 1791-1793 

Alexander  V.  Griswold,  D.D.,          .         .         .         .  1795-1795 

William  Greene 1796-1797 

Tillotson  Bronson,  D.D.,         .....  1797-1806 

Virgil  Horace  Barber, .  1807-1814 

AlpheusGeer, 1814-1830 

William  Barlow 1830-1832 

Allen  C.  Morgan,            .         .         .         .         .         .  1833-1836 

Jacob  L.  Clark,  D.D., 1837-1877 

Joel  F.  Bingham,  D.D.,           .         .         .         .         .  1877-1880 

Robroy  M.  Converse,  D.D.,    .         .         .         .         .  1880-1883 
Edmund  Rowland,  D.D.,        ....       1884-Emeritus 

John  N.  Lewis,  Jr.,        ....         .                   .  1901- 

127 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


ASSISTANTS. 


John  A.  Paddock, 
George  W.  Home, 
Edward  Jessup,     . 
Charles  G.  Acly,    . 
Samuel  G.  Appleton, 
Junius  M.  Willey, 
John  Eaton  Smith, 
C.  W.  Chandler,    . 
A.  Floridus  Steele, 
Francis  T.  Russell, 
J.  Foote  Bingham, 
Victor  C.  Smith,    . 
John  H.  White,     . 
R.  M.  Converse,    . 
J.  B.  Harding, 
Melvville  K.  Bailey, 
S.  R.  Holden, 
John  H.  McCrackan, 
H.  N.  Tragett 
March  C.  Mayo,     . 
John  N.  Lewis,  Jr., 
Taliafferro  F.  Caskey, 
Martin  A.  Barnes, 
Jacob  A.  Biddle, 
Royal  Ransom  Miller, 
Charles  T.  Hall,     . 


1849-1849 
1849-1850 
1851-1852 
1852-1856 
1856-1858 
1858-1861 
1862-1864 
1864-1865 
1865-1868 
1868-1875 
1876-1877 
1877-1878 
1878-1878 
1878-1880 
a  short  time 
1883-1885 
1885-1887 
1890-1894 
1895-1896 
1896-1900 
1900-1901 
1902-1902 
1902-1905 
1905- 
1905-1906 
1906- 


There  is  no  record  of  a  choice  of  clerk  from  1761  until  1765 
although  the  records  were  evidently  made  by  several  different 
hands.  The  clerks  did  not  sign  their  records  until  1812. 

During  the  years,  1786-94,  two  clerks  were  appointed.  A 
Society's  meeting  was  held  in  December  and  a  vestry  meeting  in 
the  Spring.  Perhaps  one  clerk  was  intended  for  each  but  it  does 
not  appear  so  in  the  record. 


128 


CHURCH  OFFICERS,  ST.  JOHN'S  PARISH. 


CLERKS. 

Thomas  Osborn,    .  1761-1764 

Abraham  Hickox,  1765-1784 

Isaac  Benham,      .  1785-1797 

Seba  Bronson,       .  1786-1794 

James  Scovill,       .  1797. 

Daniel  Porter,       .  1797-1808 

Ashley  Scott,  .      .  1809-1823 
excepting  one  year. 

Edmund  Austin    .  1817-1818 

Elijah  F.  Merrill,  .  1824-1833 

Leverett  E.  Rice  .  1834-1837 

Samuel  H.  Judd,  .  1837-1838 
Samuel  W.  Hall,  1839, 1854-1868 

John  P.  Elton,      .  1840-1848 

Rufus  E.  Hitchcock,  1848-1852, 

1868-1871. 

Chester  J.  Carrington,         1853 

John  W.  Smith,     .  1872-1875 

Nelson  J.  Welton,  1876-1889 

Charles  F.  Mitchell,  1889- 


WARDENS. 

Timothy  Porter,    . 
John  Welton,  .     . 
Daniel  Brown, 
John  Hickox,  .      . 
Ephraim  Warner, 
Benjamin  Benham, 
Herman  Munson, 


1761-1763 
1761-1783 
1764-1765 
1766-1772 
1772-1795 
1784-1785 
1786-1795 


There  is  no  record  of  elec- 
tion of  wardens  from  1795  until 
1817  when  James  Scovil  was 
chosen.  No  further  election  re- 
corded until  William  H.  Scovill, 

1838-1854. 

Obadiah  Warner,  .  1838-1839 
Leonard  Platt,  .  1839-1856 
Scovill  M.  Buckingham,  1854- 

1889. 
Chester    J.    Carrington,    1857- 

1862. 

Isaac  E.  Newton,  .  1862-1886 
Edward  R.  Lampson,  1886- 

1895. 

Nelson  J.  Welton,       1890- 
Frederick  J.  Kingsbury, 

1895- 

TREASURERS. 

Ephraim  Warner,  1785-1803 

James  Scovil,  .      .  1804-1821 

Daniel  Steele,  Jr.,  .  1821-1827 

William  H.  Scovill,  1828-1838 

Leonard  Platt,      .  1839-1849 

Edward  S.  Clark,  .  1850 

Samuel  W.  Hall,   .  1851-1855 

John  P.  Elton,      .  1856-1864 

Nathan  Dikeman,  1865-1877 

Franklin  L.  Curtis,  1877-1906 

Edwin  S.  Hunt,     .  1906 


SOCIETY'S  COMMITTEE  AND  VESTRY. 
(Approximate  dates  every  10  years,  but  no  names  repeated.) 

1760-1770— Capt.  Geo.  Nichols,  Ins.  (Ensign)  [Ephraim] 
Warner,  Abram  Hickcox,  David  Warner,  Eleazer  Prindle,  David 
Porter,  John  Welton,  Daniel  Brown,  Capt.  Edward  Scovil,  Dr. 

129 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

Ephraim  Warner,  Benjamin  Ferris,  Preserved  Porter,  John 
Hickox,  Capt.  Hezekiah  Brown,  Jonathan  Garnsee,  Jr. 

1771  to  1780 (in  addition  to  the  above)— Seba  Bronson, William 
Nichols  Isaac  Benham,  Timothy  Porter,  Enos  Gunn,  Benjamin 
Benham,  Ebenezer  Warner,  Elijah  Richards,  Samuel  Nichols, 
Edmund  Austin,  Stephen  Welton,  Richard  Welton. 

1781-1790  (in  addition) — Ephraim  Warner,  Thomas  M.Culver, 
Ard  Welton,  Simeon  Nichols,  Jobamah  Gunn,  Eliakim  Welton,  Jr., 
David  Warner,  John  Cossett,  James  Scovil  (Jr.),  Ard  Welton, 
Eliakim  Welton,  Jr. 

1791-1800— Herman  Munson,  Mark  Warner,  Asa  Beach,  John 
Clark,  Jr.,  Joseph  Terrill,  Lemuel  Welton,  Levi  Bronson,  Benj. 
Benham,  Jr.,  John  Worthington,  Richard  Welton,  Obadiah  War- 
ner, Richard  F.  Welton,  Elezer  Tompkins,  Elijah  F.  Merrill. 

1801-1810 — Zenas  Hungerford,  Seymour  Welton  of  Wolcott, 
Thomas  Welton  of  Wolcott,  King  William  Lamson,  Erastus 
Welton,  Miles  Newton. 

1811-1820 — Joseph  Leaven  worth,  Joseph  Warner,  Ashley  Scott, 
Daniel  Steele,  Asa  Hoadley,  Elias  Clark,  Joseph  Nichols,  Ard 
Warner,  Jr.,  Legrand  Bancroft,  James  M.L.  Scovill,  Miles  Newton 
Jr.,  Bela  Welton,  Timothy  Ball,  Elias  Brown,  Humphrey  Nichols. 

1821-1830 — Joseph  Bronson  2d,  Merit  Welton,  Daniel  Steele, 
Jr.,  Leonard  Warner,  Lyman  Bradley,  George  Warner,  William 
H.  Scovill,  Samuel  Cook,  David  W.  Austin,  Isaac  Nicholson. 

1831-1840— (Vestry)  Joel  Hinman,  John  Sandland,  Wm. 
H.  Adams,  William  Porter,  Moses  Hall,  Enoch  Woodruff, 
Miles  Newton,  Anson  Bronson,  Aaron  Gibbs,  Leonard  Platt, 
John  P.  Elton,  Scovill  M.  Buckingham,  William  M.  Pem- 
berton,  John  Sandland,  Jr.,  Wm.  R.  Hitchcock,  Sherman  Hickox, 
Lyman  Welton,  Anson  Downs,  Anson  Sperry. 

1841-1850— Rufus  E.  Hitchcock,  Burritt  Judson,  John  P. 
Elton,  William  Hickox,  David  E.  Downs,  Isaac  E.  Newton, 
Hobart  V.  Welton,  William  Lamb,  C.  B.  Merriman,  Enos  A. 
Pierpont,  Chester  J.  Carrington,  Edwin  Newton,  Merit  Lane. 

1851-1860 — Sherman  Hickox  B.  H.  Morse,  George  Pritchard, 
W.  N.  Bradley,  E.  B.  Cooke,  Lyman  H.  Welton,  Geo.  F.  Perry, 
Leonard  Pritchard,  Carlos  Hungerford,  Edward  S.  Clark,  Henry  S. 

130 


CHURCH  OFFICERS,  ST.  JOHN'S  PARISH. 

Pierpont,  Nelson  J.  Welton,  Theodore  I.  Driggs,  Edward  S.  Clark, 
Lyman  W.  Coe,  John  W.  Smith,  Arad  W.  Welton,  R.  W.  Cairns, 
William  Lamb,  Nathan  Dikeman,  Aner  Bradley,  Jr.,  James  P. 
Blake. 

1861-1870— Enos  A.  Pierpont,  B.  P.  Chatfield,  Henry  Merri- 
man,  Charles  Dickinson,  J.  H.  Sandland,  J.  C.  Booth,  Frederick 
J.  Kingsbury,  James  S.  Elton,  Samuel  W.  Hall,  Jarvis  E.  Ellis, 
E.  L.  Frisbie. 

1871-1880 — E.  R.  Lampson,  Edwin  S.  Hoyt,  L.  L.  Trumbull, 
John  S.  Castle,  Edward  D.  Steele,  Edwin  D.  Welton,  Alonzo 
Boyden,  F.  L.  Curtiss,  H.  H.  Peck,  I.  A.  Mattoon,  Albro  Scovill. 

1881-1890— Gordon  B.  Lawrence,  Joseph  Welton,  T.  D.  Bar- 
low, Wm.  A.  Faber,  Robert  K.  Brown,  Roswell  H.  Buck, 
Edward  M.  Burrall,  Charles  F.  Mitchell,  William  B.  Merriman. 

1891-1900— George  L.  Welton,  George  F.  Hughes,  S.  P. 
Williams,  John  P.  Elton,  H.  O.  Miller,  George  A.  Driggs,  James 
Crompton,  Carl  E.  Munger,  Frederick  S.  Chase,  Edward  O.  Goss, 
Robert  W.  Hill. 

1900-1907— Louis  N.Van  Keuren,  John  P.  Kellgog,  J.  M.  Bur- 
rail,  2d,  Arthur  O.  Jennings,  F.  J.  Loomis,  Arthur  M.  Dickinson, 
H.  W.  Steele,  Wm.  E.  Fulton,  Edwin  S.  Hunt. 

AGENTS. 

For  a  good  many  years  the  business  affairs  of  the  parish  have 
been  managed  by  an  agent,  appointed  annually,  as  agent  both  of 
the  parish  and  vestry. 

This  agent  has  frequently  been  the  senior  warden,  but  not 
necessarily  nor  always.  Next  the  rector,  the  agent  is  the  person 
who  has  most  responsibility  for  all  parish  matters,  is  the  chief 
parish  executive  and  holds  the  most  important  position.  For 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  there  has  always  been  some 
layman  who  appeared  to  carry  the  responsibility  of  the  parish. 
During  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  Captain  John 
Welton  was  the  man,  and  after  him  came  Justus  Warner,  then 
William  H.  Scovill,  Scovill  M.  Buckingham,  Theodore  I.  Driggs, 
Nelson  J.  Welton.  At  the  same  time  there  have  been  others  who 
were  active  and  efficient,  but  these  have  been  the  representative 
men. 

131 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


1906. 


OFFICERS  OF   ST.    JOHN'S   PARISH. 


Rev.  Edmund  Rowland,  D.D., 
Rev.  John  N.  Lewis,  Jr., 
Rev.  Charles  T.  Hall,   . 
Nelson  J.  Welton, 
F.  J.  Kingsbury, 


Rector  Emeritus. 
Rector. 
Assistant. 
Senior  Warden. 
Junior  Warden. 


VESTRYMEN. 


James  S.  Elton, 
C.  E.  Munger, 
J.  M.  Burrall, 
J.  P.  Kellogg, 


James  Crompton, 
H.  W.  Steele, 
E.  D.  Welton 
W.  E.  Fulton. 


F.  S.  Chase, 

L.  N.  Van  Keuren, 

E.  S.  Hunt, 

T.  D.  Barlow, 

Chas.  F.  Mitchell,  Ex-officio. 
F.  L.  Curtiss,  Ex-officio. 

Chas.  F.  Mitchell,  Clerk.  *F.  L.  Curtiss,  Treasurer. 

Nelson  J.  Welton,  agent  of  parish  and  vestry. 


*F.  L.  Curtis  died  May  10.  1906.  and  Edwin  S.  Hunt  was  appointed  treasurer. 


132 


CHAPTER  XL 


I 


CERTAIN    TAX    RATES.* 

AM  indebted  to  Miss  Katharine  A.  Prichard  for  the  following 
list  of  Churchmen  in  Waterbury  as  taken  from  the  Rate-books 
of  the  town, 

1748-1776. 

Westbury  is  included  for  the  entire  period;  Northbury  until  1756. 

The  first  column  of  figures  denotes  the  amount  on  which  they 
were  taxed  at  the  date  when  they  appear  as  "Churchmen,"  "Epis- 
copalians" or  "Church  of  England  men";  the  second  column 
shows  the  largest  amount  on  which  they  were  taxed,  1748-1783. 

The  Earliest  list  of  Churchmen,  as  such,  is  on  the  Rate-book 
for  1748. 


Barnes,  John £101-101 

Bronson,  Joseph 150-197 

fBrown,  Daniel 20-191 

fElam 27-68 

James 53-131 

James,  Jr 46-  48 

John 35-121 

fJoseph 20-104 

fDoolittle,  Thomas 58-95 

Gordon,  James 30-  54 

Gunn,  Nathaniel 119-210 

tHickox,  Samuel 140-160 

Johnson,  Robert 65-101 

Judd,  John 75-135 

Joseph 56-56 

Nichols,  George 101-324 

Richard 139  139 

Porter,  Dr.  Daniel 81-111 

Timothy 57-136 

fPrindle,  Jonathan 114-155 

fScott,  Daniel 46-56 


Scott,    Edmund 35-91 

Gershom 106-113 

Zebulon 34-81 

Scovill,  William 112-163 

Selkrig,  William 21-71 

Terrell,  Joshua 26-28 

Gamaliel 99-108 

Thompson,  Caleb 54-218 

Truck,  Abraham 30-  36 

Warner,  Benjamin,  Jr 18-52 

Ebenezer,  3d 67-146 

Ephraim,  Jr 36-  96 

Josiah 64-64 

Obadiah 63-70 

Welton,  Eliakim 30-125 

fGeorge 90-105 

Richard 68-126 

Richard,  Jr 98-157 

Stephen 58-155 

Thomas,  Jr 30-  66 

Wheland,  John 30-96 


*This  list  is  printed  in  this  book  as  it  does  not  appear  elsewhere  and  a  list  of  this  sort 
is  too  valuable  to  be  lost. 
tResided  in  Westbury  (was  Watertown  in  1780). 

133 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


ADDITIONS,     1749-1758 

Allen,  Ephraim 23-48 

Barnes,  Thomas 69-  94 

Batcheldor,  Abel 31-60 

Bellamy,  James 33-42 

*Blakeslee,  Abner 32-183 

James 56-102 

In  1769,  James  is  called  a  Baptist. 

Jude 18-104 

Stephen 29-70 

Brown,  Hezekiah 18-124 

Chapman,  Silas 12-21 

Cossett,  John 18-52 

Curtiss,  Samuel 49-76 

Davis,  Morris 21-28 

*Doolittle,  James 42-95 

Ford,  Ebenezer 42-116 

Enos 24-29, 

Graves,  Cornelius 59-134 

Grilley,  Jehula 27-76 

Hew 7-41 

*Hartehorn,  Eliphalet 38-101 

*Hikcox,  John 23-78 

John,  Jr 49-62 

How,  Samuel 18-26 

Hubbard,  Josiah 23-58 

Nathan 61-85 

* Judd,  Ebenezer 30-107 

Lieut.  John 109-135 

Lewis,  Lent 18-24 

Luddington,  Abraham 43-43 

David 23-49 

Sarah 35-35 

*Merrills,  Caleb 22-56 

David 60-60 

*Ephraim 24-37 

*Nathaniel 30-58 

Nichols,  Benjamin 18-  45 

Isaac 25-25 

James 54-127 

Joseph 58-95 

Osborn,  Thomas 21-169 

Porter,  Daniel,  Jr 21-111 

Preserved...  18-  77 


Potter,  Samuel 52-67 

Prichard,  Roger,  Jr 68-148 

*Prindle,  Eleazer 49-120 

Scott,  Obadiah,  3d 22-39 

Robert 24-32 

*Scovill,  widow  Desire 27-  27 

*Samuel 102-104 

Shelton,  Samuel  (Stratford)  4-  24 

Silkrig,  widow  Judith 3-    5 

Slater,  John 19-58 

Terrill,  Amos 22-  50 

Benjamin 31-68 

Warner,  Dr.  Benjamin 63-93 

Benjamin,  3d 18-21 

David 20-100 

Joseph 21-62 

Josiah,  2d 56-76 

Timothy 49-89 

Way,  David 49-54 

May 29-89 

May,  Jr 30-39 

Thomas 18-74 

Welton,  Ebenezer 21-  40 

John 65-153 

Oliver 50-132 

Woodruff,  John 15-24 

Wooster,  David 46-114 

Thomas 9-    9 

[In  1751,  this  list  is  given  for  North- 
bury. 

Allen,  Ebenezer 36-106 

Gideon 49-  74 

Blakeslee,  Jacob 77-1 15 

Moses 26-69 

Reuben 33-  61 

Thomas  &  David, 

83-142  &  145 

Castle,  Asael 37-36 

Isaac 49-73 

Cook,  Henry 10-50 

Curtiss,  Abel 42-107 

Elwell,  Ebenezer 91-91 

Fancher,  Samuel 28-  28 

Ford,  Cephas 22-  33 


134 


CERTAIN  TAX  RATES. 


Ford,  Ebenezer 39-116 

Mary 74-74 

Hill,  Jonathan 32-32 

How,  John 70-89 

Jacobs,  Bartholomew 57-  78 

Luddington,  Moses 67-73 

Sutliff,  Abel 49-96 

John 32-169 

Weed,  Jonas 25-82] 

The  sum  total  of  the  list  for  1758 
is  £7,407,  divided  among  89  persons. 
The  entire  grand  list  of  the  town  for 
that  year  is  £23,204. 

ADDITIONS,  1759-1768. 

Anderson,  Johnson £  18-  36 

Arnold,  David 22-35 

Austin,  Edmund 36-  53 

Barrett,  James 35-25 

*Beach,  Asael 32-55 

Benham,  Benjamin 23-  84 

James 21-29 

Reuben 13-18 

Shadrach 29-51 

Bolt,  Bartholomew 30-30 

Bronson,  Ebenezer,  Jr 36-  53 

Seba 43-136 

*Brown,  Daniel,  Jr 18-26 

*Samuel 57-99 

Camp,  Abel 21-65 

Candee,  Noah 67-224 

Chambers,  Thomas 48-  48 

Clifford,  Daniel 32-33 

*Doolittle,  James 84-95 

*Samuel 33-52 

Douglass,  Alexander  F 21-74 

*Frost,  Moses 27-27 

Samuel 46-46 

Timothy 37-  40 

Fulford,  Gershom 17-94 

John 21-23 

Jonathan 21-83 

*Titus 46-48 

Grilley,  Henry 33-33 


Guernsey,  Jonathan,  Jr. ...  70-211 

Gunn,  Enos 60-187 

Nathaniel,  Jr 48-77 

*Hand,  Aaron 18-27 

Hickox,  Abraham 36-157 

*John,  Jr 58-58 

William 67-99 

*Judd,  Asa 21-48 

*Brewster 20-  26 

*Enoch 18-20 

*Noah 40 

[and  John,  199] 

*Mattoon,  David 139-139 

Munson,  Harmon 39-  81 

Nichols,  Lemuel 42-180 

Page,  Joseph 45-45 

Painter,  John 62-73 

Porter,  John 18-54 

Timothy,  Jr 27-  87 

*Prichard,  Joseph 26-30 

Prindle,  John 20-20 

Scott,  Barnabas 36-37 

Gideon 68-68 

*Obadiah,  Jr 23-83 

*Scovill,  Darius 20-64 

Edward 179-179 

Timothy 36-36 

Selkrig,  Nathaniel 18-27 

*Shelton,  Daniel 4-10 

*Smith,  Wait 27-135 

*Stillwell,  Benjamin 31-43 

*Stow,  Josiah 40-40 

*Thomas,  Samuel 24-24 

Tuttle,  Ezekiel 5-    6 

Jabez  (one  horse) . .  3-39 

Twitchell,  Isaac 28-79 

Tyler,  Abraham 57-91 

Warner,  Abijah 30-48 

Ard 25-61 

Ephraim,  Jr 28-84 

William 21-32 

Webb,  Samuel 27-32 

Welton,  widow  Deborah. . .  69-  69 

Eliakim,  Jr 31-78 


135 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


21-  33 
25-  25 
35-  62 
25-  73 
21-  21 
18-  36 

37-  54 
18-  45 
13-  13 
18-  18 
48-  73 
75-109 
21-  24 
18-  29 

38-  38 
29-  47 

25-  29 
34-  48 
18-  28 
18-  27 
16-  27 
34-  34 

26-  99 
18-  60 
53-  53 
24-  70 
40-  54 
21-  21 
44-  50 
33-  39 
56-  56 
40-  55 
32-  38 


I  am  also  indebted  to  Miss  Prichard  for  the  following  list 
of  children  "Baptised  at  Waterbury"  by  Dr.  Mansfield  which 
seems  worth  preserving. 

BAPTISMS  FROM 
"THE  CHURCH  BOOK  OF  THE  PARISH  OF  DERBY," 

BY  THE  REV.  MR.  MANSFIELD. 
1748-9,  Feb.  11,          Elihu  to  Lent  Lewis. 
1749-50,  Feb.  11,         Joseph  to  Richard  Nichols. 
1748,        Nov  20,         Jobamah  to  Nathaniel  Gunn. 

136 


Welton,  Nathaniel  
Stephen,  Jr  
Wooster  Miles       

39-  39 
38-150 
46-  48 
32-  46 

r76. 

53-  76 
10-  19 
27-  28 
35-  61 
64-  93 
20-  27 
21-  26 
50-  50 
27-  39 
61-  71 
29-  57 
23-  41 
21-  24 
26-  29 
42-  42 
107-119 
61-198 
24-  41 
18-  67 
6-    7 
2-    2 
37-  37 
47-  53 
41-  47 
18-  18 
24-  43 
18-  18 

Nichols,  Joseph,  Jr.  [3d]... 
Osborn  Ebenezer 

Thomas,  Jr  
Painter,  John  

Wait  

ADDITIONS,  1769-1- 

Adams,  Abraham  
Beach  Joel,  

Phillips,  Thomas  

Porter,  Francis  

John,  

Mark  

Beebe  Ephraim 

Prichard,  widow  Rebecca.  . 
Prindle,  Jotham  
Richards,  Elijah      

Benham  Isaac 

Bronson,  widow  Mary  
Brown  Asa  

Obadiah  
widow  Sarah  .... 
Roberts,  Joel  

Daniel,  3d  
Bunnell,  Benjamin  
Candee,  Timothy  

Scott,  Noah  

Culver,  Stephen  
Dowd  Jacob 

Simeon  

Selkrig  John 

Fenn  Samuel 

Seymour  Gideon 

Grilley  Cyrus 

Smith,  T-,\ifi 

Daniel  

Terrill,  Matthew 

Griswold,  Jonathan  
Gunn,  Abel  

Tuttle,  Jesse  

Tyler,  Jacob  

Jobamah  ,  .  ,  

Wakelee,  Ebenezer  

Hickox  Jesse 

Warner,  Ebenezer,  Jr  
widow  Eleanor.  .  . 
Obadiah 

Hungerford,  Jonas  
Kurd,  Andrew  (Strat.)  
Lewis,  Benjamin  (Cheshire) 
Caleb  .  .  . 

Seth   .. 

Way,  Ebenezer.  .  .  . 

Merchant,  John         

Welton,  Ard  

Moss  'Joseph     

Eli  

Munson,  Isaac  

Ezekiel  
Thomas,  3d  
Winters.  Obadiah.  .  . 

William  

Nichols.  Elijah.. 

CERTAIN  TAX  RATES. 


1748, 

Nov.  20, 

1748, 

Dec.  11, 

1748-9, 

Jan.  29, 

1748-9, 

Feb.  26, 

1749, 

April  16, 

1749, 

May  28, 

1749, 

Sept.  17, 

1749, 

Sept.  17, 

1749, 

Sept.  17, 

1749. 

Oct.  8, 

1749, 

Nov.  5, 

1749, 

Nov.  6, 

1749, 

Nov.  6, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  15, 

1749, 

Feb.  11, 

1750, 

Mayl, 

1750, 

May  1, 

1750, 

May  20, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1749, 

June  25, 

1750, 

JulyS, 

1750, 

July  29, 

1750, 

July  29, 

1750, 

July  29, 

1750, 

Nov.  4, 

1750, 

Dec.  16, 

1750-1, 

Feb.  3, 

1750-1, 

Mch.  24, 

1751, 

April  14, 

1751, 

April  16, 

1751, 

April  16, 

1751, 

April  16, 

1751, 

Mayl, 

1751, 

June  2, 

1751, 

June  2, 

Tamer  to  Richard  Nichols. 

Prue  to  George  Nichols. 

Thomas  to  Stephen  Welton. 

Asaph  to  James  Brown. 

Matthew  to  Joshua  Tyrrell. 

Marlin  Molotts,  servant  to  Captain  Heacocks 

Moses  to  Eliakim  Welton. 

Sarah  to  Ebenezer  Judd. 

Rhena  to  Obadiah  Warner. 

Ozias  to  Josiah  Warner. 

Jemima  to  Ebenezer  Warner. 

Keziah  to  Moses  Blakeslee,  Northbury. 

Ephraim  to  John  How 

Reumah  to  Caleb  Thompson. 

Gideon  to  Ebenezer  Ailing. 

John  to  Ebenezer  Ailing. 

David  to  Ebenezer  Ailing. 

Rachel  to  Ebenezer  Ailing. 

John  to  Daniel  Russell. 

Susanna  to  John  Whalen. 

Richard  to  Isaac  Castle,  Northbury. 

Freelove  to  Abel  Curtiss,  Northbury. 

Allen  to  Thomas  Welton. 

Isaac  to  Jonas  Weed,  Northbury. 

John  to  Caleb  Matthews,  Northbury. 

Daniel  to  Daniel  Rowe,  Northbury. 

Daniel  to  Mr.  Long,  Northbury. 

Abigail  to  Mr.  Warner,  Northbury. 

Phebe  to  Edward  Neal,  Northbury. 

Ruth  to  Timothy  Porter. 

Benjamin  to  Mr.  Salters. 

Lydia  to  Nathan  Hubbard. 

Esther  to  Daniel  Scott. 

Seth  to  Ephraim  Warner. 

Ebenezer  to  James  Brown,  Jr. 

A  son  to  Ebenezer  Judd. 

A  daughter  to  William  Silkrig. 

Hannah  to  Caleb  Thompson. 

Lemuel  to  Jonathan  Hill. 

Ephraim  to  Samuel  How. 

Submit  to  Reuben  Blakeslee. 

Lydia  to  Mr.  Scott. 

John  to  George  Nichols. 

A  daughter  to  Caleb  Thompson. 


137 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


1751, 

June  23, 

1751, 

June  23, 

1751, 

June  25, 

1751, 

Aug.  11, 

1751, 

Oct.  21, 

1751, 

Oct.  20, 

1751, 

Nov.  10, 

1751, 

Dec.  25, 

1752, 

Feb.  16, 

1752, 

Aprils, 

1752, 

Aprils, 

1752, 

April  26, 

1752, 

June  14, 

1752, 

June  14, 

1752, 

June  15, 

1752, 

Sept.  24, 

1752, 

Sept.  24, 

1752, 

Sept.  24, 

1752, 

Sept.  24, 

1752, 

Oct.  18, 

1753,  a 

t  Waterbury 

1753, 

March  4, 

1753, 

March  4, 

1753, 

March  26, 

1753, 

March  27, 

1753, 

March  26, 

1753, 

March  27, 

1753, 

March  27, 

1753, 

March  27, 

1753, 

March  27, 

1753, 

May  13, 

1753, 

July  2, 

1753, 

July  2, 

1753, 

July3, 

1753, 

July  3, 

Anna  to  Joseph  Branson. 

A  daughter  to  Oliver  Welton. 

Abigail  to  Ebenezer  Allen,  Northbury. 

A  son  to  Nathaniel  Gunn. 

Abel  to  Abel  Sutley  [Sutliff]. 

Nathaniel  to  Joseph  Brown. 

Phebe  to  Mr.  Gordon. 

Abel  to  John  Whalen. 

Thomas  to  S.  Welton. 

Aaron  to  FJialrirn  Welton. 

Annes  to  Ebenezer  Welton. 

Lydia  to  Richard  Welton. 

Titus  to  Edward  Neal. 

Pomp,  servant  to  JonathanfPrindle. 

Deliverence  to  Isaac  Curtiss. 

"  Mary,  daughter  to  Joseph  Smith,  and  three  more  at 

Northbury." 

Ben,  an  adult  servant  to  Capt.  Hickock. 
David  to  Ebenezer  Welton. 
Hannah  to  James  Brown, 
A  son  to  Oliver  Welton. 
nd  Northbury: 
Ben  a  j  ah  to  Ebenezer  Judd. 
Sarah  to  Daniel  Brown. 
Thankful  to  Simon  Tuttle. 
Sebe  to  Caleb  Thompson. 
Silas  to  Reuben  Blakeslee. 
Eli  to  David  Blakeslee. 
Abigail  to  Samuel  How. 
Mary  to  Cephas  Ford. 
Lucy  to  Moses  Luddington. 
William  to  William  Silkrig. 
Barnabas  to  Ebenezer  Ford. 
Simeon  to  Abel  Castle. 
Timothy  to  Timothy  Porter. 
Sally  to  Timothy  Porter. 


138 


CHAPTER    XII. 
ST.  PETER'S  PARISH,  NORTHBURY  (PLYMOUTH). 

IN  Northbury,  at  "the  Hollow,"  now  Thomastown,  a  building 
was  erected  about  1738  (on  land  given  by  the  Rev.  John 
Southmayd,  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Waterbury),  which  was  used  as  a  place  of  public  meetings,  for 
religious  purposes,  and  as  a  school-house.  After  a  few  years  a 
portion  of  the  society  wished  to  build  a  church  and  preferred 
to  have  it  on  the  hill.  This  led  to  a  division.  Part  of  the  society 
built  a  new  house  and  went  to  the  hill,  while  the  others  remained 
at  the  old  place.  It  was  not  long  before  this  remnant  left  in  the 
"Hollow"  became  an  Episcopal  parish,  or  at  any  rate  a  band  of 
people  worshipping  according  to  the  liturgy  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  receiving  the  occasional  ministrations  of  the  mission- 
aries of  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel, 
Messrs.  Morris,  Arnold,  Lyon  and  Mansfield. 

Dr.  Bronson's  History  (page  310)  represents  the  majority  of 
the  congregation  as  having  become  Episcopalians  and  having 
voted  out  the  minority  with  the  Rev.  Samuel  Todd,  the  Congre- 
gational clergyman,  and  Dr.  Beardsley  has  followed  this  in  his 
History  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Connecticut.  But  the  Rev. 
E.  B.  Hillard,  in  some  researches  made  in  1888,  while  he  was  pas- 
tor of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Plymouth,  found  a  document 
which  puts  a  somewhat  different  face  on  the  matter.  As  this 
document  does  not  appear  in  the  Colonial  Records,  and  is  valuable 
evidence  on  a  controverted,  or  at  least  misunderstood,  matter, 
it  is  reproduced  here,  pour  servir.  It  is  dated  at  Northbury, 
October  8,  1740: 
To  the  Honorable  and  General  Assembly,  convened  at  New  Haven: 

We,  the  subscribers,  having  in  time  past  applied  ourselves  to  this  Assembly 
for,  and  they  being  so  complaisant  towards  us  as  to  grant  us,  the  liberty  in  the 
first  place  to  hire  the  gospel  preached  with  us  in  the  winter  season  which 
privilege  we  thankfully  improved,  and  after  that  through  then-  benignity 
toward  us  we  obtained  the  privilege  of  hiring  the  gospel  preached  with  us  for 

139 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

the  space  of  two  years,  and  having  no  house  in  the  centre  of  us  convenient 
to  attend  the  public  worship  in,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Southmayd  encouraged  us  to 
erect  a  small  house  for  that  use,  by  giving  us  a  parcel  of  land  in  the  centre  of 
us  for  that  end,  upon  which  we  built  a  small  house  and  in  a  short  time  carried 
on  the  public  worship  peaceably  in  it.  And  after  we  had  met  in  the  house 
about  a  year  our  necessity  was  so  great  of  enjoying  the  gospel  ordinances,  upon 
our  request  (though  we  were  very  small)  the  Assembly  was  pleased  to  favor 
us  with  society  privileges,  upon  which  in  a  little  time  we  gave  Mr.  Samuel 
Todd  a  call  to  settle  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  with  us,  of  which  he  accepted, 
and,  being  settled  with  us,  we  find  our  obligations  to  him  full  as  much,  if  not 
more  than  we  can  answer;  and  it  being  evident  at  this  day  to  the  Assembly 
that  a  certain  number  among  us  are  striving  to  involve  us  in  much  greater 
charges  still,  which,  if  obtained,  we  despair  of  answering  our  obligation  to  Mr. 
Todd,  and  we  humbly  conceive  that  the  forementioned  house  of  which  we 
are  the  proprietors  will  answer  the  present  necessity  of  the  society  to  attend 
public  worship  and  which  we  freely  dedicate  to  that  use,  and  request,  if  the 
Assembly  see  fit,  that  the  said  house  may  be  established  the  place  of  public 
worship  so  long  as  they  see  fit.  That  so  the  charge  of  building  a  meeting- 
house or  any  charge  for  that  end  may  be  prevented  at  present.* 

At  the  October  session  the  Assembly  apparently  took  no  action, 
but  the  following  May,  "being  informed  of  the  broken  and  con- 
fused circumstances  of  the  parish  at  Northbury,  etc.,  they  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  conduct  said  society  in  the  choice  of  proper 
officers  and  advise  and  direct  where  they  shall  meet  on  the  Sabbath 
for  public  worship."  In  October  following  they  appointed  an- 
other committee,  in  part  the  same  persons,  to  "fix  a  site,"  etc. 
The  end  of  it  all  was  that  the  party  favoring  a  new  church  and  a 
new  site  carried  the  day,  but  the  disaffected  portion  declined  to 
be  taxed  and  stuck  to  their  school-house,  and  soon  after  most  of 
them  declared  themselves  members  of  the  Church  of  England. 

(The  first  paragraph  of  the  Northbury  Congregational  Church  record  now 
extant  has  this  entry:  "Any  member  of  Regular  standing  in  the  Church  of 
England  shall  be  admitted  to  Occasional  Communion  with  us  in  this  church 
for  the  time  to  come.) 

In  1759,  when  the  Rev.  James  Scovill  became  the  rector  in 
Waterbury,  he  gave  one-half  his  services  to  Northbury  and  New 

"The  signers  of  this  document  are:  William  Ludcnton.  Jonathan  Cook,  John  Sutlef,  Jr., 
Barnabas  Ford,  John  How,  Isaac  Cassel,  Thomas  Blasle  (Blakeslee),  Jacob  Blasle.  Ebenezer 
Richardson.  Caleb  Humiston,  Phinehas  Rice,  Daniel  Curtis,  Gedian  Allen,  Jeremiah  Peck, 
Jeremiah  Peck,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Elwell,  Samuel  Frost,  John  Sutlef,  Samuel  Jacobs. 

140 


ST.  PETER'S  PARISH,  NORTHBURY  (PLYMOUTH}. 

Cambridge.  In  1771,  Northbury  and  New  Cambridge  seem  to 
have  set  up  for  themselves.  Dr.  Bronson  says  they  obtained  the 
services  of  a  minister.  In  1773  the  Rev.  James  Nichols,  a  native 
of  Waterbury,  became  the  rector,  supplying  the  two  places;  but 
in  1775  he  went  to  Litchfield.  During  the  Revolution  few  ser- 
vices appear  to  have  been  held,  although  there  were  many  ardent 
churchmen  in  that  section  of  the  town,  the  feeling  being  so  strong 
that  there  was  a  great  number  of  disaffected  persons,  some  of 
whom  suffered  seriously  for  their  opinions.  Among  them  was 
Moses  Dunbar,  who  was  hanged  for  treason  at  Hartford. 

In  1784  an  Episcopal  society  was  legally  formed  under  the  new 
enabling  act  with  57  legal  voters,  as  follows: 


Solomon  Collis, 

Abner  Blakeslee, 

Titus  Barnes, 

Asher  Blakeslee, 

Hosea  Blim, 

Amos  Bronson, 

Eli  Blakeslee, 

Philo  Bradley, 

John  Brown, 

Moses  Blakeslee, 

Ebenezer  Bradley, 

Joab  Camp, 

Samuel  Blakeslee, 

Ebenezer  Bradley,  Jr., 

Abraham  Castle, 

Thomas  Blakeslee, 

Zadok  Curtis, 

Amasa  Castle, 

Noah  Blakeslee 

Ezra  Dodge, 

Samuel  Fenn, 

Jude  Blakeslee, 

Cornelius  Crane, 

Jesse  Fenn, 

Ebenezer  Ford, 

Benj.  Crane, 

Isaac  Fenn, 

Barnabas  Ford, 

Simeon  Crane, 

Zaccheus  Howe, 

Enos  Ford, 

Eliphalet  Hartshorn, 

Zebulon  Mosher, 

Daniel  Ford, 

Eliphalet  Hartshorn,  Jr, 

,,  Chauncey  Moss. 

Amos  Ford, 

Jesse  Humaston, 

Jacob  Potter, 

David  Luddington, 

Sam'l  Peck,  Jr., 

Sam'l  Potter 

Gideon  Seymour, 

David  Shelton, 

Ezekiel  Sanford,  Jr.; 

Abel  Sutliff,  Jr., 

Sam'l  Scovill,  Jr., 

Jesse  Turner, 

Wm.  Tuttle, 

Thos.  Williams, 

Eli  Welton, 

Thos.  Way, 

Oggrius  Warner, 

Thos.  Williams,  Jr. 

Sam'l  Way, 

and  for  the  next  few  years  the  parish  had  such  services  as  they 
could  secure  temporarily.  The  Rev.  Richard  Mansfield,  the  Rev. 
James  Scovil,  the  Rev.  Asahel  Baldwin,  the  Rev.  Philo  Shelton, 
the  Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson  and  the  Rev.  Edward  Blakeslee  appear 
on  the  record  as  having  officiated.  In  1788  the  Rev.  Chauncey 
Prindle  became  rector,  serving  both  Northbury  and  Westbury, 
and  so  remained  until  1806.  In  1795  Plymouth  was  incorporated 
as  a  separate  town. 

141 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

It  was  during  Mr.  Prindle's  rectorship  that  after  much  dis- 
cussion, the  Church  followed  the  footsteps  of  their  predecessors 
and  went,  with  their  organization,  onto  the  Hill.  The  first  ser- 
vice held  here  was  November  24,  1796,  and  November  2,  1797,  the 
church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Jarvis,  as  St.  Peter's,  it  being 
among  the  first  of  his  official  acts.  In  1806  Mr.  Prindle  resigned 
the  rectorship,  the  reason  given  being,  "so  that  Plymouth  and 
East  Plymouth  might  be  united  under  one  rectorship."  This 
arrangement  appears  not  to  have  been  carried  into  effect  until 
1810,  although  Rev.  N.  B.  Burgess  appears  to  have  been  here  in 
1807  and  1808  with  Rev.  J.  Davis  Welton,  then  acting  as  lay 
reader.  In  1810  Rev.  Roger  Searle  was  instituted  rector,  and  St. 
Peter's  had  two-thirds  of  his  services  and  St.  Andrew's,  East 
Plymouth,  one  third.  He  remained  until  1817  when  he  removed 
to  Ohio  and  founded  the  parish  of  St.  Peter's,  Ashtabula.  From 
1819  to  1829,  the  Rev.  Rodney  Rossiter  was  rector  and  during 
this  time  a  rectory  was  built.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Burhans  was  here 
from  1831  to  1836,  and  the  Rev.  William  Watson  came  in  1837  and 
remained  until  1851.  The  Rev.  S.  D.  Denison  was  here  from  1851 
to  1854,  Rev.  A.  B.  Goodrich  to  1856,  Rev.  S.  K.  Miller  1855  to 
1858,  Rev.  Dr.  Berry  to  1862,  Rev.  Mr.  Lumsden  to  1863,  Rev. 
B.  Eastwood  to  1869,  Rev.  Porter  Thomas  1869  to  1872,  Rev. 
Emerson  Jessup  1872  to  1873,  Rev.  L.  de  Dorman  to  1874,  Rev. 
S.  B.  Duffield  to  1875,  Rev.  John  M.  Bates  to  1877,  Rev.  Henry  T. 
Scudder  to  1878,  Rev.  John  D.  Gilliland  to  1888,  Rev.  W.  E. 
Hooker  to  1892,  Rev.  Dr.  James  Gammack  to  1895,  Rev.  Henry 
G.  Smith,  January,  1896,  to  Easter,  1900,  Rev.  John  D.  Gilliland, 
June,  1900.  In  1892-3  the  church  was  greatly  improved  by  a 
new  floor  and  pews  and  by  a  new  heating  apparatus,  costing  $1000, 
which  last  was  paid  for  by  Mrs.  John  M.  Toncey  of  New  York, 
a  former  member  of  the  parish.  In  November,  1897,  a  centennial 
celebration  was  held,  and  an  historical  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Dr 
Samuel  Hart. 

Thomaston,  formerly  known  as  Plymouth  Hollow,  was  made 
a  separate  town  in  1875.  This  is  where  the  first  churches,  both 
Congregational  and  Episcopal,  had  their  origin  and  were  both 

142 


ST.  PETER'S  PARISH,  NORTHBURY  (PLYMOUTH). 

subsequently  removed  to  the  "Hill."     Thomaston  now  has  a 
flourishing  church  of  its  own. 

OFFICERS  OF  ST.  PETER'S  PARISH. 

Wardens. 
WILBERT  N.  AUSTIN,  HENRY  A.  SMITH. 

Vestry. 

EDWARD  H.  GATES,  E.  V.  LA  RUE, 

BUEDETTE  MORSE,  HERBERT  W.  CLEVELAND, 

WILLIAM  L.  LUMPKIN,  C.  HOBART  SMITH, 

ARD  WELTON,  C.  ARAD  WELTON. 

Parish    Treasurer. 

EDWIN  M.  TALMADQE. 

Treasurer  of  Permanent  Fund. 

HENRY  A.  SMITH. 

Clerk. 
WALLACE  E.  DAYTON. 


143 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CHRIST'S  CHURCH,  WATER-TOWN. 

IN  1764  twenty  persons  entered  into  an  agreement  "to  hold 
public  worship  in  Westbury  on  those  Sundays  when  there  was 
no  preaching  in  Waterbury,"  and  to  make  arrangements  to 
build  an  Episcopal  Church. 

To  wit:— Asahel  Beach,  Seth  Blake,  Samuel  Brown,  Joseph  Brown, 
Daniel  Brown,  Thomas  Doolittle,  James  Doolittle,  Jonathan  Fulford,  Jonathan 
Garnsey,  John  Judd,  Noah  Judd,  Asa  Judd,  John  Hickox,  Joseph  Hickox, 
Joseph  Pritchard,  Eleazar  Prindle,  Gershom  Scott,  Edward  Scovil,  Samuel 
Scovil,  William  Scovil. 

They  met  at  the  house  of  James  Doolittle  in  the  winter  and  at 
Ensign  David  Scott's  in  the  summer.  The  next  year  (1765) 
Captain  George  Nichols  of  Waterbury  gave  them  a  lot,  and  by 
October,  through  the  efficient  management  of  Captain  Edward 
Scovil,  they  had  a  building  fit  to  occupy,  although  not  completed. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Andrews  delivered  the  dedicatory  sermon. 
An  arrangement  was  made  by  which  Rev.  James  Scovil  of  Water- 
bury  was  to  preach  every  sixth  Sunday.  This  continued  till  1771, 
when  the  Society  had  so  much  increased  that  Mr.  Scovil  agreed 
to  give  them  one-third  of  his  time.  In  1773  they  finished  the  lower 
part  of  the  house,  with  pulpit,  chancel  and  canopy,  but  never 
entirely  completed  it.  During  the  Revolution  the  Society  suffered 
with  the  others  of  this  denomination. 

In  1779  Captain  Edward  Scovil  gave  them  by  will  seventeen 
acres  of  land  near  the  church.  This  was  afterwards  sold  and  a 
fund  established  which  still  exists. 

(The  parish  also  owns  three  acres  of  land  in  the  center  of  the 
village  on  which  are  the  present  church,  rectory  and  parish  house.) 

The  first  church  is  described  as  45  feet  by  36  feet  with  a  steeple, 
the  first  in  the  town.  It  was  named  Christ  Church.  It  stood,  as 
nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  leading 
to  Waterbury,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  southward  from  the  green 

144 


CHRIST'S  CHURCH,  WATERTOWN. 

and  a  little  southwest  from  the  Congregational  Church,  whic 
stood  within  the  old  cemetery  enclosure,  or  nearly  so,  at  the 
southwest  corner.     The  Episcopal  Church  is  supposed  to  have 
been  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  leading  east. 

Mr.  Scovil  continued  as  rector  until  he  left  Waterbury.  This 
was  nominally  until  1786,  although  during  the  last  two  years  he 
was  absent  much  of  the  time  in  New  Brunswick.  In  1788  the 
Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle,  a  native  of  Westbury,  a  nephew  of  Mr. 
Scovil  and  a  Yale  graduate  of  1776,  then  in  deacon's  orders  and 
previously  a  lay-reader,  took  charge  of  the  parish,  having  also  the 
church  at  Northbury  under  his  care.  His  stipend  was  thirty 
pounds,  to  be  paid  in  beef,  pork,  butter,  tallow,  wool,  flax  or  any 
sort  of  grain.  In  1793  a  new  church  was  built,  and  consecrated 
by  Bishop  Seabury  as  Christ's  Church  on  November  18,  1794. 
This  church  stood  on  a  piece  of  ground  purchased  of  Samuel 
Southmayd,  at  the  intersection  of  the  streets  a  few  rods  west  from 
the  site  of  the  present  church.* 

Rev.  Mr.  Prindle  remained  in  charge  until  1805  when  the  Rev 
Russell  Wheeler  took  the  parish,  remaining  until  1814.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Frederick  Holcomb  who  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  Watertown,  dying  in  1872,  and  holding  the  rectorship 
till  1850  with  the  exception  of  a  temporary  withdrawal  from 
1838  to  1845,  and  thoroughly  identifying  himself  with  the  town 
and  its  people  in  all  their  joys  and  sorrows.  A  man  of  great  sim- 
plicity of  character  and  broad  sympathies;  of  sound  practical 
sense  and  universally  beloved  and  respected. 

From  1838  to  1845  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel  Richardson  was 
rector  and  on  his  resigning,  Dr.  Holcomb  was  prevailed  upon  to 
accept  the  charge  for  five  years  more. 

This  was  a  period  of  quiessance  for  Watertown.  Agriculture 
and  stock  raising,  in  both  of  which  Watertown  was  pre-eminent, 
began  soon  after  1830  to  decline  and  it  was  a  number  of  years 
before  any  considerable  manufacturing  was  undertaken  in  the 
town. 


*A  part  of  the  open  ground  about  the  church  has  since  been  inclosed  in  the  grounds 
now  occupied  by  Mrs.  J.  A.  Buckingham.  The  house  itself  fronted  the  east,  the  west  line 
being  nearly  in  a  line  with  Mrs.  Buckingham's  east  fence.  In  1780  Watertown  became  a 
separate  town. 

145 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

In  1850  the  Rev.  Horace  Hall  Reid  became  rector  and  re- 
mained until  1857.  Manufacturing  had  now  been  established 
and  under  this  influence  the  town  began  to  grow.  It  was  under 
Mr.  Reid's  ministry  that  the  present  church  was  built.  Since 
then  the  old  school  house  on  the  church  ground  has  been  converted 
into  a  parish  house  and  the  church,  rectory  and  parish  house  are 
all  on  the  same  property.  A  spire,  which  was  at  first  on  the 
church  was  blown  down  a  few  years  after  it  was  built,  and  was 
never  replaced,  but  a  finial  to  the  tower  was  substituted.  Large 
interior  repairs  and  decorations,  and  a  new  organ  have  been  added 
within  a  few  years,  also  some  memorials  of  the  families  of  Scovill, 
Heminway,  Curtis,  Buckingham  and  Warren. 

Mr.  Reid's  successor  in  the  rectorship  was  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin 
W.  Stone  from  1857  to  1860.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Willaim  H.  Lewis 
succeeded  Dr.  Stone  and  remained  for  fourteen  years,  until  his 
death.  Dr.  Lewis  had  been  rector  of  a  large  church  in  Brooklyn 
and  looked  upon  the  Watertown  rectorate  as  a  retirement  from 
active  duty.  But  he  found  plenty  here  to  occupy  his  time  in 
a  way  which  was  pleasant  to  himself  and  profitable  for  his  people. 
In  1874  Dr.  Lewis  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  D.  McConnell,  and 
he  in  1876  by  Rev.  James  Stoddard,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Herbert  N.  Cunningham,  who  remained  until  1891,  when  Rev. 
John  F.  Nichols  became  rector  and  occupied  the  position  until 
1894,  when  Rev.  Mr.  Cunningham  again  became  rector  and  still 
remains. 

The  mission  of  All  Saints,  at  Oakville,  has  been  established  by 
the  rector  of  Christ  Church  and  is  reckoned  as  part  of  that  parish. 
At  present  it  is  under  the  immediate  care  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Stanfield 
of  St.  Paul's,  Waterville,  who  acts  in  this  capacity  as  assistant  of 
the  rector  of  Christ's  Church.  The  two  together  have  a  communi- 
cant roll  of  about  400;  a  showing  which  is  probably  not  surpassed 
in  any  village  in  the  United  States  having  a  total  population  of 
only  3500. 

The  following  sketch  is  taken  from  a  sermon  of  the  Rev.  Wm. 
H.  Lewis,  D.D.,  preached  June  2,  1872: 

Rev.  Frederick  Holcomb,  D.  D.,  waa  the  third  son  of  Jesse  and  Louisa 
Holcomb.  He  was  born  in  Granby,  Conn.,  Oct.  13,  1786.  His  parents  by 

146 


CHRIST'S  CHURCH,  WATERTOWN. 

religious  profession,  belonged  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  had  their  children 
baptized  in  infancy.  At  the  early  age  of  thirteen,  himself,  with  two  brothers 
and  a  sister,  received  the  apostolic  rite  of  confirmation  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Jarvis.  At  about  the  age  of  sixteen  his  parents,  albeit  in  moderate  circum- 
stances, made  him  the  offer  of  a  collegiate  education,  though  there  was  no 
decided  inclination  on  his  part  at  that  time  of  a  desire  to  enter  the  ministry. 
He  eagerly  accepted  the  offer.  His  preparatory  studies  began  under  the  Rev. 
David  Waldo,  of  West  Suffield,  and  were  completed  under  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clin- 
ton, of  Southwick,  Mass.  In  1805  he  entered  Williams  College,  Massachusetts, 
graduating  in  1809.  Soon  after  that  he  was  led,  under  the  providence  of  God, 
to  realize  the  necessity  of  due  preparation  for  the  life  to  come,  and  he  resolved 
on  a  course  of  theological  reading,  and  entered  upon  it  at  once.  His  first 
examination  was  passed  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tillotson  Bronson,  of  Cheshire, 
and  his  second  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kewley,  of  Middletown.  He  was  ordained 
as  deacon,  with  license  to  preach  and  baptize,  in  Trinity  Church,  New  Haven, 
June  23,  1811,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abraham  Jarvis,  D.  D.  A  call  was  soon 
received  from  St.  Mark's  Church,  Harwinton,  and  Trinity  Church,  Northfield 
society,  to  take  charge  of  them  both,  and  to  divide  the  time  equally  between 
them.  He  removed  to  Harwinton,  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  on  the  17th  of 
December,  1811.  At  his  ordination  to  the  priesthood,  it  being  necessary  to 
have  three  presbyters  to  lay  on  hands,  with  the  bishop,  the  Venerable  Dr. 
Mansfield,  of  Derby,  then  about  ninety  years  of  age,  was  brought  to  act,  with 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Bronson,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitlock,  of  Trinity  Church,  New 
Haven,  and  the  ordination  was  in  that  church,  by  Bishop  Jarvis,  Sunday, 
Dec.  20,  1812. 

It  was  the  last  ordination  performed  by  that  prelate,  and  for  some  years 
Dr.  Holcomb  was  not  only  the  last  presbyter  ordained  by  him,  but  the  only 
survivor  of  those  admitted  by  nun  to  holy  orders.  He  soon  after  received  a 
call  to  Christ  Church,  Watertown,  and  removed  his  family  there  Dec.  14, 
1814.  He  remained  as  rector  of  that  parish  until  1838,  when  he  resigned  its 
care,  but  was  recalled  in  1845,  and  continued  as  rector  until  1850,  when  the 
infirmities  of  old  age  prompted  him  to  surrender  the  cares  of  a  parish  forever. 
Nevertheless,  he  preached  for  feeble  and  destitute  parishes,  whenever  his 
health  would  allow  it,  during  the  remainder  of  life.  He  died  May  26,  1872. 

His  first  wife,  Mary  Pinney,  died  Nov.  15,  1825,  leaving  two  daughters, 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Leman  W.  Cutler,  and  Martha  M.,  wife  of  Orrin  Starr.  These 
last  both  died  before  his  demise.  His  second  wife,  Nancy  Merriman,  widow 
of  Ed.  E.  Porter,  survives  him. 

Dr.  Holcomb  was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance,  of  great  physical 
strength,  and  until  the  decay  of  nature,  in  old  age,  always  favored  with  robust 
health.  He  was  a  man  of  great  prudence,  never  stirring  up  strife  by  word 
or  deed  of  his  own,  truly  a  peacemaker.  He  was  firm  in  his  churchmanship, 
and  yet  courteous  and  kind  to  those  of  other  religious  names,  so  as  always 
to  have  been  on  terms  of  kindly  Christian  intercourse  with  them. 

147 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

OFFICERS  OF  CHRIST  CHURCH  PARISH. 

WATEKTOWN,  CONN. 

REV.  HERBERT  N.  CUNNINGHAM,       .         .  Rector. 

REV.  JOHN  A.  CROCKETT,          .         .         .  Asst.    Rector. 

ALFRED  H.  SCOVILL,         .         .         .         .  Senior  Warden. 

GEORGE  F.  PRITCHARD,    .         .         .         .  Junior   Warden. 

Vestrymen. 

A.  H.  SCOVILL,  G.  F.  PRITCHARD, 

H.  H.  HEMINWAT,  F.  B.  NOBLE, 

WALLACE  ATWOOD,  H.  H.  BARTLETT, 

S.  McL.  BUCKINGHAM  B.  H.  HEMINWAT, 

MERRITT  HEMINWAY  B.  S.  JOHNSON, 

PAUL  KLIMPKE,  W.  J.  MUNSON, 

CHARLES  SMITH. 

HARRY  H.  HEMINWAY,  Clerk.  FRANK  B.  NOBLE,  Treat. 


148 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

ST.  MICHAEL'S,  NAUGATUCK. 

IN  1784,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  Beers  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David 
Booth  conveyed  to  the  church,  land  valued  at  £100,  the  same 
having  been  given  by  verbal  will  of  Abel  Gunn  toward  the 
building  of  a  church,  it  being  a  condition  that  the  poor  people  of 
the  parish  should  be  relieved  of  their  rates  by  this  gift. 

The  parish  was  formally  organized  February  16,  1786,  at  the 
house  of  Jobamah  Gunn  and  fourteen  persons  enrolled  themselves 
as  members.  They  mostly  resided  in  the  western  part  of  Salem 
society,  which  was  then  known  as  Gunntown,  the  Gunns  being 
the  prominent  family  there.  Services  were  conducted  at  some 
private  house,  usually  by  the  minister  officiating  in  Waterbury, 
one  Sunday  in  a  month,  sometimes  every  third  Sunday;  the  ser- 
vices of  the  intervening  Sunday  being  conducted  by  a  lay-reader. 

After  the  removal  of  Rev.  Mr.  Scovil  in  1786,  preaching  was 
intermittent,  until,  in  1792,  Rev.  Seth  Hart  was  settled  in  Water- 
bury,  officiating  half  the  time  in  Salem  and  Woodbury. 

In  1795  the  society  committee  had  discretionary  orders  to 
hire  such  Episcopal  clergymen  as  they  can  obtain  to  do  divine 
service  during  the  year. 

Soon  after,  they  entered  into  negotiation  with  Rev.  Alexander 
Viets  Griswold,  but  did  not  succeed  in  obtaining  his  services,  and 
then  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Candee  was  appointed  to  assist  in  reading 
the  sermons,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Osborn  to  read  prayers.  But  before 
long,  in  this  same  year,  the  Rev.  Tillottson  Bronson  became 
rector  of  St.  John's,  Waterbury,  and  gave  one-quarter  of  his  time 
to  Salem,  and  this  continued  until  1805. 

In  1806,  Rev.  Chauncey  Prindle  became  rector,  dividing  his 
time  between  Salem  and  Oxford,  and  so  remained  until  1814. 


*This  sketch,  prepared  for  the  History  of  the  Town  and  City  of  Waterbury,  was 
mostly  taken  from  a  manuscript  history  of  the  parish,  by  the  Rev.  E.  C.  Gardner,  and 
loaned  me  by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Ellsworth;  since  Mr.  Ellsworth's  death  this  sketch  has  disap- 
peared. It  is  hoped  that  it  may  be  found  and  preserved. 

149 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

In  1801,  December  21,  a  vote  was  passed  to  build  a  church  on 
Sawmill  hill,  but  February  16,  1803,  this  vote  was  rescinded. 

In  1803,  after  several  unsuccessful  efforts,  a  small  church 
building  (the  vote  says  44  by  34  feet)  was  sufficiently  finished  for 
use.  This  stood  according  to  the  record,  "  on  the  hill,  about  fifty 
rods  west  of  Jobamah  Gunn's  dwelling  house,"  which  still  retains 
the  local  name,  Church  hill. 

May  17,  1809,  a  vote  was  passed  "to  make  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  Salem  a  society  house  for  the  public  worship  of  Almighty 
God  according  to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  that  the 
committee  see  that  the  church  be  painted,  glass  windows  put  in 
and  gallery  floors  laid. 

It  was  in  this  gallery  that  the  chorister,  zealous  and  engrossed 
with  his  duties,  hearing  the  wrong  note  taken  from  the  pitch  pipe, 
brought  down  his  fist  like  a  sledge  on  the  breastwork  and  shouted, 
"Stop!  you  haven't  got  the  pitch  into  forty  rods."  All  who  be- 
lieved in  a  prescribed  form  were  much  startled  by  this  statement 
which  was  not  to  be  found  in  the  rubrics.  In  1812  a  bell  was 
placed  in  the  belfry. 

In  1830  it  was  decided  to  remove  the  Church  to  the  "  Bridge." 
$1000  was  raised  by  subscription,  and  the  Church  was  taken 
down,  removed  and  fitted  up  in  good  condition  and  ready  for  use 
in  1832,  in  which  year  it  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Brownell 
under  the  name  of  St.  Michael.  It  appears  to  have  had  no  name 
prior  to  the  removal. 

Meantime  Mr.  William  C.  DeForest,  who  was  mainly  instru- 
mental in  effecting  the  removal,  prepared  a  hall  in  his  satinet 
factory  in  which  services  were  held  while  the  removal,  recon- 
struction and  repairs  were  in  progress. 

The  lot  on  which  the  Church  stands  and  the  "Church  Green" 
were  deeded  by  Daniel  Beecher  for  ecclesiastical  purposes  in  March, 
1832. 

During  these  years  Rev.  William  A.  Curtis  and  Rev.  T.  J. 
Davis  successively  ministered  here,  dividing  their  time  between 
this  parish  and  Bethany. 

150 


ST.  MICHAEL'S,  NAUGATUCK. 

On  July  21,  1833,  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hopson  began  his  ministry. 
He  was  the  first  resident  rector,  as  Mr.  Prindle's  house  was  in  the 
edge  of  Oxford,  and  after  the  first  year  gave  his  whole  time  to  the 
parish.  His  connection  with  it  lasted  nearly  fourteen  years  and 
until  after  Naugatuck  became  a  separate  town. 

The  following  are  Mr.  Hopson' s  successors: 

Rev.  James  Mackay,  1847-1849. 
Rev.  Joseph  Scott,  1849-1856. 
Rev.  Thomas  G.  Carver,  1857-1859. 
Rev.  G.  T.  Woodruff,  1860-1861. 
Rev.  E.  E.  Johnson,  1861-1865. 
Rev.  William  L.  Fitch.  1865-1867. 
Rev.  James  S.  Scott,  1867-1878. 
Rev.  Edward  R.  Brown,  1878-1880. 
Rev.  Charles  R.  Talbot,  1880-1881. 
Rev.  E.  C.  Gardner,  1881-1888. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Ellsworth,  1888-1901. 
Rev.  William  H.  Garth,  1902. 

Since  Mr.  Hopson  left,  Naugatuck  has  grown  from  a  village  of 
1500  to  a  town  of  15,000. 

During  this  time  the  parish  has  made  steady  progress  and  was 
not  without  two  or  three  special  features  to  make  its  history. 

First  came  the  building  of  the  present  brick  church  and  chapel 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  James  S.  Scott.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  on  St.  Michael's  Day,  1875,  and  the  first  service  in 
the  completed  church  was  held  a  year  later. 

On  February  16,  1886,  the  Centenary  of  the  parish  was  cele- 
brated. While  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellsworth  was  in  charge,  the  rectory, 
so  attractively  situated  on  the  Green,  and  now  in  use,  was  built — 
the  old  rectory  being  moved  from  Church  Street  to  Meadow  Street 
in  order  to  make  room  for  the  block  which  was  erected  by  the 
parish  as  an  investment.  This  block  is  known  as  the  Hopson 
Block  and  is  called  after  the  former  rector  of  that  name. 

The  present  rector,  the  Rev.  William  Henry  Garth,  formerly 
assistant  minister  of  St.  George's  Church,  New  York,  began  his 
ministry  in  St.  Michael's  on  March  1,  1902. 

151 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

The  parish  has  just  succeeded  (April,  1906)  in  raising  the  neces- 
sary fund  for  a  parish  house,  which  will  be  built  during  the  coming 


OFFICERS  OF  ST.  MICHAEL'S  PARISH, 

NAUGATUCK,  CONN. 
REV.  WILLIAM  HENBT  GARTH,  .         .         .        Rector. 

Wardens. 
JOHN  M.  PAGE,  F.  F.  SCHAFFER. 

Vestrymen. 

JOHN  WOOD,  1880,  A.  C.  TUTTLE,  1882, 

G.  W.  ANDREW,  1885,  G.  D.  BUCK,   1888, 

H.  E.  BALDWIN,  1888,  JACOB  KEELING,  1891, 

A.  H.  DAYTON,  1893,  C.  E.  PEARSON,  1899, 

J.  W.  ROGERS,  1902,  LEON  M.  WOODFORD,  1904, 

H.  H.  SCHOFIELD,  1904,  FRANK  H.  JUDD,  190.5. 

Clerk  of  the  Pariah. 
EDWARD  E.  HOTCHKISS. 

Treasurer. 
GEORGE  D.  BUCK. 

Parish  Agent. 
HORACE  E.  BALDWIN. 


152 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE     CHURCH     IN     MIDDLEBURY. 

IN  1804  a  vote  was  passed  by  the  Salem  Society  that  the  Middle- 
bury  Society  have  the  liberty  of  the  Church  for  the  purpose 
of  hiring  a  clergyman  to  officiate  therein,  on  Rev.  Tillotson 
Bronson's  absence,  with  his  permission.     This  is  supposed  to  have 
been  done  for  the  purpose  of  allowing  the  Middlebury  people  to 
hear  a  candidate,  but  it  shows  that  they  apparently  had  an 
organized  society  there  as  early  as  1804. 

A  considerable  number  of  the  members  of  the  Gunntown 
parish  were  apparently  residents  of  Middlebury.  At  the  time  of 
the  removal  of  the  building  to  Naugatuck  Center,  one  of  the 
reasons  given  in  favor  of  it,  was  that  a  new  parish  had  been 
formed  in  Middlebury.  We  learn  from  the  journals  of  the  annual 
Protestant  Episcopal  Convention,  that  a  parish  at  Middlebury, 
without  name,  was  admitted  in  1830.  It  appeared  to  have  been 
mostly  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hopson,  then  rector  at 
Naugatuck.  In  1835  the  Bishop  reports  twelve  persons  confirmed 
there.  In  1841  Mr.  Hopson  reports  that  "his  engagement  termi- 
nated at  Easter,  since  which  no  stated  services  are  held  there." 
In  1843  he  reports  at  Naugatuck  "nine  communicants  formerly 
numbered  in  the  Middlebury  parish."  No  further  reports  appear, 
and  in  1851  the  parish  was  dropped  from  the  list.  It  is  supposed 
to  have  owed  its  existence  mainly  to  the  efforts  of  Larmon  Town- 
send,  a  merchant  at  Gunntown,  near  the  church,  who  afterward 
removed  his  business  and  residence  to  Middlebury.  He  was  an 
ardent  churchman  and  frequently  officiated  as  a  lay-reader. 
He  died  May  11,  1858,  aged  eighty-one  years. 


153 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ALL   SAINTS   PARISH,    WOLCOTT.* 
Taken  mainly  from  Rev.  Samuel  Orcutt's  History  of  Wolcott. 

IN  1779  an  application  was  made  to  the  Legislature  by  persons 
living  in  Farmingbury,  an  Ecclesiastical  Society  formed  from 
portions  of  Farmington  and  Waterbury,  for  permission  to 
form  an  (Episcopal)  Ecclesiastical  Society.     This  was  opposed  by 
the  Congregational  Society  and  was  not  granted. 

About  1805  services  were  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Byington 
and  continued  to  be  held  there  for  several  years. 

The  Episcopal  Society  was  organized  January  26,  1811,  under 
the  following  call: 

CALL  FOR  THE   FIRST  SOCIETY   MEETING. 

We,  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Wolcott,  being  of  the  order 
of  Christians  denominated  Episcopalians,  and  being  desirous  to  form  ourselves 
into  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  exercising  all  the  privileges  which  by  law  are 
granted  to  the  several  Societies,  being  of  the  aforesaid  order  of  Christians,  do 
hereby  agree  to  meet  on  the  26th  day  of  instant  November,  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  Mr.  Titus  Hotchkiss,  in  said  Wolcott,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
of  said  day,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a  moderator  and  clerk  of  said  meeting, 
which  clerk,  when  chosen,  shall  be  sworn  as  the  law  directs;  and  also  to  choose 
all  other  officers  which  shall  then  be  thought  necessary  and  proper  for  the 
good  of  said  Society,  and  also  to  tax  ourselves  for  the  purpose  of  procuring 
such  proportion  of  preaching  as  shall  by  the  Society  be  thought  best,  being  at 
all  tunes  governed  and  directed  by  a  majority  of  said  meeting,  in  the  doing  and 
performing  of  all  which,  as  above  written,  will  ever  hereafter  consider  ourselves 
a  Society;  and  to  be  guided  by  the  same  laws  and  in  the  same  manner  as  other 
Societies  of  the  same  denomination,  belonging  to  this  State,  are. 

WOLCOTT,  November  31,  1811. 

John  Welton,  Moses  Welton,  Levi  Hall,  William  Parker,  William  Hotch- 
kiss, Ambrose  Ives,  Eliakim  Welton,  Timothy  Hotchkiss,  Streat  Todd,  Phineas 
Deming,  Joseph  Minor,  John  Norton,  Zephana  Parker,  Bildad  Hotchkiss, 
John  J.  Kenea,  Asaph  Finch,  Levi  Brown,  Erastus  Welton,  Joseph  Welton, 
Eliakim  Welton,  2d,  Titus  Hotchkiss,  Thomas  Welton,  Daniel  Langdon,  Heze- 
kiah  Bradley,  Daniel  Byington,  David  Wakelee,  Joseph  C.  Alcox,*Eleazer 
Finch. 


•Farmingbury  was  incorporated  a  town  by  the  name  of  Wolcott  in  1796 

154 


ALL  SAINTS  PARISH,  WOLCOTT. 

MINUTES    OF   THE    FIRST   SOCIETY    MEETING. 

WOLCOTT,  November  26,  1811. 

At  a  legal  meeting  this  day  holden  at  the  dwelling  house  of 
Mr.  Titus  Hotchkiss,  by  the  members  of  the  Episcopal  Society, 
the  following  votes  were  passed  by  the  members  of  said  meeting: 
"  That  Daniel  Langdon  be  moderator  of  said  meeting,  and  that 
Erastus  Welton  be  clerk  for  the  year  ensuing;  that  Moses  Welton 
be  treasurer;  that  Moses  Welton,  Bildad  Hotchkiss  and  Irad 
Wakelee  be  Society's  Committee  for  the  year;  Daniel  Langdon 
and  Thomas  Welton,  Wardens.  Voted  that  a  tax  of  one  cent  on 
a  dollar  be  laid  on  the  list  1811,  and  made  payable  to  the  Treasurer 
the  first  day  of  March,  1812,  and  that  Irad  Wakelee  be  Collector 
of  said  Tax.  Voted  that  the  annual  society  meeting  be  hereafter 
holden  the  last  Monday  in  November,  annually.  That  the  society 
committee  receive  the  money  at  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer,  and 
at  their  discretion  apply  it  for  preaching  the  ensuing  year." 

For  two  years  after  the  formation  of  the  Society,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Prindle,  then  of  Naugatuck,  supplied  the  Society  with  preaching 
once  a  month  during  the  summer  season,  six  or  seven  months,  at 
$6.  per  Sabbath,  as  the  Treasurer's  book  shows.  In  1815  Rev. 
Tillotson  Bronson  preached  for  them.  After  this,  names  of 
ministers  are  not  mentioned  for  some  years,  yet  the  amount  spent 
for  preaching  seems  to  have  been  most  of  the  time  nearly  fifty 
dollars  a  year. 

Services  were  conducted  by  laymen  regularly  in  the  absence 
of  a  minister,  and  committees  were  appointed  from  year  to  year 
to  "read  the  prayers  of  the  church,"  and  also  to  read  sermons. 
Three  or  four  persons  were  named  for  each  purpose.  These 
appointments  are  continued  yearly  for  eleven  years.  Clergymen 
of  the  adjoining  parishes  officiated  occasionally  as  will  be  seen  by 
votes  of  St.  John's,  Waterbury,  giving  permission  for  the  rector  to 
officiate  in  Wolcott  for  a  Sunday  occasionally.  The  services  were 
held  in  a  private  house,  usually  that  of  Daniel  Byington. 

An  April  10,  1820,  the  Society,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  took 
into  consideration  the  subject  of  building  a  house  of  worship,  and 
"  voted  that  we  appoint  an  agent  to  consult  the  minds  of  gentle- 

155 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

men  on  the  expediency  of  petitioning  the  Legislature  for  a  grant 
of  a  lottery  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  house  of  worship."* 
At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  in  the  same  month,  April  24th, 
they  "  voted  that  we  will  build  a  house  of  public  worship,  provided 
we  can  agree  upon  a  spot  for  that  purpose."  Also  "  voted  that  we 
will  build  a  house  in  the  Centre,  provided  we  can  be  accommodated 
with  a  place  to  set  it,  and  that  Levi  Hall,  Ambrose  Ives,  and 
Erastus  Welton,  be  a  committee  to  look  out  a  spot  to  build  a 
house." 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  December  31st,  1821,  they 
"voted  that  we  will  build  a  church  in  case  we  can  get  money 
enough  subscribed,  and  that  we  will  build  it  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  near  the  Meeting  house,  and  that  Archibald  Minor,  Levi 
Hall,  Moses  Welton,  Eben  Welton,  Willard  Plumb,  and  Ambrose 
Ives,  be  a  committee  to  circulate  subscription  papers  for  the 
purpose  of  building  a  house." 

On  January  21st,  three  weeks  later,  they  "voted  to  ascertain 
the  probable  expense  of  a  house  from  40  by  30  to  46  by  36  feet, 
and  also  to  get  a  plan  of  the  frame."  One  week  later  they  "  voted 
to  build  a  church  30  by  40  feet,  that  it  be  two  stories  high,  with  20 
feet  posts  and  a  cupola  suitable  for  hanging  a  bell."  At  the 
same  meeting  they  directed  the  Society  Committee  to  "  agree  with 
Moses  Pond  for  a  room  in  his  chamber  to  meet  in  for  one  year, 
if  in  their  opinion  they  can  get  it  reasonable."  Moses  Pond's 
house  at  this  time  was  the  public  house  at  the  Centre.  In  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year  they  circulated  subscriptions  to  raise 
money  to  defray  expenses  for  hiring  a  house  in  which  to  hold 
public  worship  the  year  ensuing  and  it  is  probable  it  was  this 
chamber  in  Mr.  Pond's  hotel. 

In  December,  1823,  they  accepted  the  report  of  their  commit- 
tee on  a  place  to  build  a  house,  and  fixed  a  site  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  forward  the  enterprise.  Between  the  years  1822 
and  1830,  the  Society  met  frequently,  discussed  the  whole  subject 


*This,  although  perhaps  not  the  last,  was  among  the  last  of  the  requests  for  the  estab- 
lishment  of  a  lottery  for  religious  or  charitable  purposes  At  an  early  date  it  had  been 
considered  a  perfectly  legitimate  method  of  raising  money,  and  the  Bishop's  Fund.  Cheshire 
Academy  and  various  other  similar  institutions  were  assisted  by  lotteries. 

156 


ALL  SAINTS  PARISH,  WOLCOTT. 

of  building  and  appointed  committees  to  forward  the  same,  but 
the  house  did  not  appear  in  its  place  as  desired.  The  society  was 
not  able  to  build  a  church  that  would  accommodate  even  its  small 
congregation,  and  during  the  same  time  the  Congregational 
Society  was  unable  to  "hire  preaching."  The  "revival"  in  the 
Spring  of  1828  in  the  Congregational  Society  under  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Scranton  had  revived  the  religious  energies  of  the  whole  commu- 
nity, and  the  Episocpal  Society  shared  in  its  benefits.  In  February 
of  1830,  they  changed  the  size  of  the  house  to  24  by  36  feet,  and 
proceeded  to  gather  materials  for  the  building. 

A    SITE   GIVEN   BY   THE   TOWN. 

WOLCOTT,  April  5,  1830. 

Then  met  according  to  adjournment,  and  at  said  meeting,, 
upon  the  petition  of  a  number  of  the  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Society  in  said  town  in  the  form  following: 

Whereas,  the  Episcopal  Society  in  the  town  of  Wolcott  are 
about  to  erect  a  house  of  public  worship  in  said  Wolcott,  and  being 
desirous  to  set  the  same  somewhere  near  the  Congregational 
Meeting  house  in  said  Wolcott,  or  as  near  as  a  suitable  spot  of 
ground  can  be  obtained  for  that  purpose,  we,  therefore,  whose 
names  are  underwritten,  petition  the  inhabitants  of  said  Wolcott, 
in  legal  town  meeting  this  day  assembled,  for  leave  to  erect  said 
house  on  the  most  eligible  spot  of  ground  belonging  to  said  town 
of  Wolcott  on  the  south  part  of  the  public  green. 

Signed  by  JOHN  J.  KENEA  and  others, 

WOLCOTT,   April   5,    1830. 
Voted  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the  petition. 

During  the  summer  of  1830  the  frame  was  raised,  and  in 
December  the  outside  of  the  church  was  covered.  The  only 
record  of  expense  of  the  Society  is  a  paper  covered  book,  found  in 
possession  of  Mr.  Orrin  Hall,  having  been  left  by  Mr.  Levi  Hall 
at  his  death,  containing  Mr.  Erastus  Welton's  account  with  the 
Society  as  treasurer  from  1811  to  1823,  and  containing  Mr.  Levi 
Hall's  account  with  the  same  from  1835  to  1839.  These  items 
give  us  no  account  of  the  cost  of  the  church,  nor  when  it  was  com- 
pleted. It  is  probable  that  the  church  was  not  finished  till  some 

157 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

time  during  the  year  1832,  from  the  fact  that  a  meeting  of  the 
Society  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1833,  and  they 
"voted  to  discharge  Levi  Hall,  Archibald  Minor,  Thomas  H. 
Welton,  and  Orrin  Plumb,  building  committee  for  the  church,  from 
any  further  services  as  committee  aforesaid,  and  from  all  liabili- 
ties in  said  capacity,"  which  indicates  the  work  of  building  com- 
pleted at  that  time.  The  Church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Brownell,  October  2,  1833,  and  the  parish  was  probably  admitted 
to  the  Convention  in  1834.  Although  the  admission  does  not  appear 
on  the  journal,  the  parish  is  recorded  in  the  list. 

In  1836  a  stove  was  put  into  the  church,  as  appears  from  a 
subscription  paper  for  that  purpose,  still  preserved. 

The  parish  records  are  imperfect,  portions  of  them  having 
been  destroyed,  according  to  a  minute  made  therein  by  Rev. 
Collis  I.  Potter,  because  "they  contained  matter  inappropriate 
for  a  register  of  the  church."  This  was  done  previous  to  Mr. 
Potter's  rectorship  and  he  probably  got  his  information  from 
members  of  the  parish.  The  character  of  the  inappropriate 
matter  does  not  appear. 

Mr.  Orcutt  gives  the  following  list  of  clergymen  who  officiated 
there. 

Rev.  Mr.  Prindle,  of  Naugatuck,  two  years  once  in  six  weeks, 
from  1811  to  1813. 

Rev.  Tillotson  Bronson,  of  Cheshire,  preached  a  short  time. 

From  1817  money  was  raised  nearly  or  quite  every  year  till 
1835,  to  procure  preaching,  but  the  ministers'  names  are  not 
mentioned  in  the  records. 

1836  and  1837,  Rev.  Peter  G.  Clark,  of  Cheshire. 

1838  and  1839,  Rev.  Mr.  Covell,  of  Bristol. 

1840  and  1841,  and  perhaps  longer,  Rev.  Servilius  Stocking, 
resident  minister. 

1843,  Rev.  Mr.  Gregor. 

1844,  Rev.  William  G.  French. 

1845  and  1846,  Rev.  David  Sandford. 
1847,  Rev.  John  D.  Smith,  of  Seymour,  three  years. 
1850  to  1855,  Rev.  Collis  Ira  Potter,  four  years. 
1855  and  1856,  Rev.  Ximenes  Alanson  Welton. 

158 


ALL  SAINTS  PARISH,  WOLCOTT. 

1858,  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Appleton,  assistant  to  Rev.  Dr.  Clark, 
of  Waterbury. 

1859,  Rev.  James  Morton,  of  Harwinton,  preached  most  of  a 
year  as  supply  on  Sabbath. 

1860,  Rev.  J.  M.  Willey,  assistant  of  Rev.  Dr.  Clark,  of  Water- 
bury.     He  is  said  to  have  been  a  "smart  man,"   and  enjoyed 
preaching  at  Wolcott  very  much. 

Since  Mr.  Willey,  Rev.  Prof.  Russell,  of  Waterbury,  and  others, 
had  preached  a  few  times. 

From  this  time  on  by  deaths  and  removals  the  Society  gradu- 
ally diminished  until  at  length,  about  1865,  they  ceased  to  hold 
even  occasional  services.  In  1882  the  parish  was  stricken  from 
the  roll  of  the  Convention.  A  few  years  later  the  Church  was 
taken  down  and  now  nothing  remains  to  mark  its  site,  except  a 
stone  in  the  shape  of  a  cross.  The  greater  part  of  the  pewter 
communion  service  of  the  church  is  in  possession  of  the  registrar 
of  the  Diocese. 


159 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

ST.  PAUL'S,  WATERVILLE. 

AS  has  been  already  stated  this  parish  was  established  as  a 
mission  of  St.  John's,  and  a  chapel  was  built  in  1851.  The 
chapel  was  consecrated  June,  1851,  by  Bishop  Brownell, 
the  sermon  on  that  occasion  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
M.  Clark,  late  Presiding  Bishop,  at  that  time  rector  of  Christ's 
•Church,  Hartford.  In  1852  the  Rev.  C.  G.  Acly,  assistant  at  St. 
John's,  took  residence  in  Waterville  and  gave  almost  all  his  time 
to  its  interests.  He  was  the  first  clergyman  to  reside  in  Water- 
ville. 

A  few  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  mission,  business  at 
Waterville  declined  and  the  mission  languished,  although  Dr. 
Clark  always  took  great  interest  in  it  and  weekly  services  and  a 
Sunday  School  were  always  sustained. 

When  Rev.  Dr.  Russell  took  charge  of  St.  Margaret's  School, 
he  offered,  November  7th,  1875,  that  if  St.  John's  would  furnish 
him  a  horse  and  carriage  he  would  take  charge  of  St.  Paul's, 
which  he  did  efficiently  for  two  years  or  more,  the  funds  for  the 
horse  and  carriage  having  been  raised  by  subscription. 

Again,  in  1889,  Dr.  Russell  took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  for  a  year 
or  more. 

About  the  time  that  the  Rev.  John  H.  McCrackan  became 
assistant  at  St.  John's,  there  was  a  revival  of  business  in  the  village 
and  Mr.  McCracken  took  great  interest  in  the  mission.  It  flour- 
ished under  his  care  and  a  parish  hall  was  built  and  opened  Sep- 
tember 17th,  1903.  Mr.  McCracken  started  a  movement  to  have 
the  mission  organized  into  a  parish,  but  resigned  before  this  was 
accomplished.  His  successor  at  St.  John's,  the  Rev.  H.  N.  Tragitt 
became  the  first  rector  of  St.  Paul's  and  the  parish  was  organized 
and  received  into  union  with  the  Diocesan  Convention,  June, 
1895.  The  first  wardens  were  Louis  Gates  and  E.  E.  Bacon, 
Harry  O.  Miller  being  the  first  elected  delegate  to  Convention. 
During  Mr.  Tragitt' s  rectorate  the  Parish  Society  and  Young 
People's  Association  were  organized,  both  of  which  societies  have 

160 


ST.  PAUL'S  CHAPEL,  WATEHVILLE. 


ST.  PAUL'S,  WATERY ILLE. 

contributed  in  great  measure  to  the  development  of  the  parish 
and  are  active  in  good  works  at  the  present  time. 

In  1898  Mr.  Tragitt  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
W.  A.  Rafter.  Mr.  Rafter  stayed  only  two  years.  His  successor 
was  the  Rev.  C.  W.  Bentham.  For  a  few  years  the  parish  lan- 
guished, and  in  January,  1902,  the  Bishop  sent  Mr.  J.  Attwood 
Stansfield,  a  student  from  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  to 
assume  direction  of  its  affairs.  The  following  Easter,  the  parish 
requested  Mr.  Stansfield  to  take  charge  and  when  he  was  ordained 
he  was  elected  Minister-in-charge.  In  April,  1903,  the  mother 
parish,  St.  John's,  gave  a  deed  of  the  Church  and  lot  to  St.  Paul's. 
The  manufacturing  interests  of  the  village  have  prospered  and 
the  parish  has  kept  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  village.  A  lot 
has  been  purchased,  large  enough  for  church,  parish  house  and 
rectory.  A  rectory  is  assured.  A  building  fund  has  been  started 
for  a  new  stone  church.  Three  rooms  have  been  added  to  the 
Parish  House,  the  interiors  of  both  church  and  parish  house  have 
been  remodelled  and  renovated;  a  cellar  has  been  made  and  fur- 
nace installed  besides  other  improvements.  The  parish  reports 
100  families,  162  communicants,  and  150  scholars  in  the  Sunday 
School. 

The  prospects  for  growth  are  good.  Two  more  large  factories 
are  to  be  built  in  the  village  and  a  large  and  immediate  increase 
in  population  may  be  expected.  To  meet  the  needs  of  the  future 
a  larger  church  is  necessary  and  efforts  are  being  made  to  raise 
funds  to  build  one. 

ST.  PAUL'S,  WATERVILLE. 
REV.  J.  A.  STANSFIELD,  .         .         .         Rector. 

Wardens. 
WILLIAM  A.  FABER,  HOMER  C.  SENIOR. 

Treasurer. 
HARRY  O.  MILLER. 

Clerk. 
RANDALL  C.  FRINK. 

Vestry. 

ALBERT  POTT,  JOHN  T.  COOKSON, 

F.  E.  STARR,  ALBERT  H.  POST, 

H.  M.  GRILLEY,  A.  H.  LANE, 

GEORGE  H.  STEVENS,  WILLIAM  H.  DA  VIES, 

WALTER  T.   ABEL. 
161 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

TRINITY    PARISH. 

DURING  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Clark  in  St. 
John's  parish,  the  population  of  the  town  increased  from 
about  2500  to  over  20,000,  and  the  number  of  families  in 
the  parish  from  130  to  480.  For  some  time  previous  to  the  burn- 
ing of  the  church,  in  1868,  it  was  felt  that  there  was  no  room  for 
growth,  and  one  of  [the  first  questions  in  planning  a  new  church 
was,  what  should  be  its  size.  The  gallery  slips  had  been  sold  for 
several  years  preceding  this  period.  The  desirability  of  a  new 
parish  had  already  been  discussed,  so  that  the  idea  was  familiar, 
and  after  due  deliberation  it  was  decided  that  the  new  church 
should  be  no  larger  than  the  'old  one  (in  fact  it  contained  fewer 
sittings),  and  that  as  soon  as  possible  measures  should  be  taken 
to  organize  a  new  parish.  On  December  15,  1872,  a  meeting  of 
St.  John's  parish  was  called  to  consider  the  subject.  The  language 
of  this  call  is  so  indicative  of  the  spirit  in  which  the  subject  was 
regarded  that  it  is  worth  quoting: 

"The  members  of  St.  John's  parish  are  requested  to  hold  an  informal 
meeting  in  this  chapel  on  Sunday  evening,  December  15,  1872,  at  a  quarter 
past  eight,  for  the  purpose  of  consultation  in  regard  to  taking  the  preliminary 
steps  for  the  formation  of  a  new  parish,  if  deemed  advisable.  All  persons  not 
members  of  the  parish,  who  are  attendants  at  the  usual  services  of  the  church, 
are  earnestly  invited  to  be  present." 

A  committee  of  six  was  appointed  at  this  meeting  to  report 
at  an  adjourned  meeting  to  be  held  a  week  later.  This  committee 
reported  that  they  were  "unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  a 
necessity  exists  for  such  a  movement,  and  the  only  question 
arising  is  whether  the  present  is  the  time,  or  whether  it  should 
be  delayed  until  our  present  church  edifice  is  completed  and  paid 
for,"  and  in  view  of  all  the  circumstances  the  committee  recom- 
mended postponement.  The  report  is  unanimously  concurred 
in,  although  it  is  added  that  "some  members  of  the  committee 

162 


TRINITY  PARISH. 

have  felt  called  upon  to  yield  their  former  opinions  for  the  sake 
of  the  general  welfare"  (meaning  that  they  preferred  immedi- 
ate action). 

The  cost  of  the  new  church  was  so  heavy  that  it  did  not  seem 
possible  to  do  anything  more  at  that  time.  The  project  was, 
however,  by  no  means  abandoned,  and  it  may  be  said  to  have 
constituted  from  this  time  forward  one  of  the  plans  of  the  parish. 

Dr.  Clark  was  in  full  sympathy  with  this  movement,  and  did 
not  allow  it  to  be  lost  sight  of.  A  meeting  of  the  parish  was 
called  for  further  consideration,  February  9,  1874,  and  the  rector 
presented  "  a  paper  of  great  interest  in  regard  to  his  work  during 
the  last  twenty  years."  It  was  a  statistical  comparison  of  this 
parish  with  several  of  the  larger  parishes  in  the  state,  showing  the 
progress  that  had  been  made  and  the  propriety  of  adopting  a  still 
more  aggressive  policy.  At  the  annual  parish  meeting,  April  6, 
1874,  a  proposal  was  made  by  the  senior  warden,  S.  M.  Bucking- 
ham, who  had  now  become  the  owner  of  the  temporary  chapel, 
with  reference  to  the  use  of  that  building  for  a  new  parish,  if  one 
could  be  organized,  or  as  a  mission  chapel,  if  it  should  be  thought 
best  to  begin  in  that  way.  But  the  action  was  postponed;  the 
parish  could  not  yet  see  the  way  clear  to  meet  the  expense. 

The  death  of  Samuel  W.  Hall  occurred  on  March  5,  1877. 
He  left  by  his  will  $15,000,  to  accumulate  for  five  years  and  then 
to  be  used  for  the  building  of  a  church  as  a  memorial  to  his  wife, 
the  building  to  be  of  stone,  and  the  sittings  to  be  free.  This 
bequest  seemed  to  make  the  way  clear  for  the  new  movement, 
and  at  the  meeting  held  on  Easter  Monday,  April  2,  1877,  a  com- 
mittee reported  that  $2000  had  been  pledged  for  the  annual 
expenses  of  a  new  parish,  and  that  fifty-two  families  trad  consented 
to  join  the  same. 

In  this  connection  the  following  letter  from  the  Bishop  is 
worth  preserving: 

To  the  Rector  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  Johns'  Parish,  Waterbury,  Conn.: 
My  dear  Brethren: 

Under  provisions  of  Canon  XII.  of  Connecticut  I  hereby  notify  you  of  the 
application  just  received  by  me  for  the  formation  of  a  new  pariah  within  the 
limits  of  the  existing  parish  of  St.  John's,  Waterbury. 

163 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

I  warmly  congratulate  all  the  geod  people  of  the  parish  on  the  admirable 
way  in  which  the  proposed  parish  has  been  started. 

And  am  affectionately  yours, 
MIDDLE-TOWN,  April  11,  1877.  J.  WILLIAMS, 

Bishop  of  Conn. 

On  behalf  of  those  interested  in  the  new  enterprise  a  request 
was  made  that  St.  John's  parish  furnish  $15,000  towards  purchas- 
ing a  lot  and  building  a  church.  A  committee  was  appointed  on 
behalf  of  St.  John's  to  confer  with  a  committee  of  those  who 
desired  to  form  a  new  parish,  in  relation  thereto.  This  committee 
reported  in  favor  of  giving  to  the  new  parish  $1500  for  the  next 
year,  and  $1000  a  year  for  four  years  thereafter,  or  until  the  new 
parish  should  have  erected  a  church  edifice.  At  the  next  parish 
meeting  it  was  reported  that  this  offer  had  been  accepted,  and  that 
a  new  parish  would  be  formed  as  soon  as  the  necessary  permission 
could  be  obtained.  The  clerk  announced  the  names  of  the  follow- 
ing persons,  nineteen  in  number,  as  giving  notice  of  their  with- 
drawal from  St.  John's  for  the  purpose  of  forming  the  new  parish: 

Nathan  Dikeman,  Rufus  E.  Hitchcock,  Edward  L.  Frisbie, 
Edward  C.  Lewis,  Aner  Bradley,  John  S.  Castle,  Charles  J.  Pier- 
pont,  Jr.,  Herbert  P.  Camp,  James  E.  Coer,  Frank  E.  Castle, 
Thomas  R.  Taylor,  Samuel  P.  Williams,  Joshua  K.  Smith,  Edward 
D.  Steele,  Joseph  P.  Merriman,  John  W.  Smith,  Samuel  Booth, 
William  W.  Bonnett,  Frederick  H.  LaForge. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  24, 1877, it  was  voted  "that  the  treas- 
urer be  directed  to  pay  the  amounts  appropriated  to  Trinity  (the 
new)  parish."  The  treasurer  and  agent  were  also  authorized  to 
borrow  money  for  the  expenses  of  the  parish.  A  year  afterward, 
at  a  meeting  held  May  23,  1878,  a  communication  was  received 
from  Trinity  parish  to  the  effect  that  their  financial  condition 
and  prospects  were  such  that  they  would  not  need  to  call  for  the 
payment  of  the  sum  pledged  to  them  for  the  coming  year.  And 
nothing  more  under  that  pledge  was  paid,  a  similar  notice  being 
given  in  each  of  the  succeeding  three  years.  The  new  parish 
took  from  the  old  many  young  people  active  in  church  work,  and 
immediately  entered  upon  a  prosperous  career. 

While  the  old  parish  was  of  necessity  reduced  by  this  "swarm- 

164 


TRINITY  PARISH. 

ing"  process,  both  in  numbers  and  in  strength,  the  separation  was 
simply  the  natural  result  of  the  growth  of  the  church  and  the  town. 
It  took  place  with  the  utmost  harmony  and  good  will,  and  marked 
no  line  of  varying  opinion,  ecclesiastical  or  otherwise. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  22,  1877,  the  parish  was  formally 
organized  and  the  name  "Trinity"  adopted.  The  following 
officers  were  elected: 

Wardens,  R.  E.  Hitchcock,  J.  W.  Smith. 
Clerk,  E.  T.  Root. 

Vestrymen,  E.  L.  Frisbie,  J.  S.  Castle,  Nathan  Dikeman,  A.  O. 
Shepardson,  E.  C.  Lewis,  S.  P.  Williams,  the  Rev.  F.  T.  Russell, 
E.  D.  Steele,  J.  C.  White,  F.  E.  Castle. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Russell  was  requested  to  take  spiritual  charge  of 
the  parish  until  a  rector  could  be  secured.  The  building  on  Grand 
Street  formerly  used  as  a  Universalist  chapel  was  leased  for  five 
years,  and  the  opening  service,  conducted  by  Mr.  Russell,  was 
held  on  Trinity  Sunday,  1877.  The  Rev.  Richard  W.  Micou  was 
soon  after  chosen  rector,  and  held  the  position  for  fifteen  years. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  parish,  steps  were  taken  with 
reference  to  the  building  of  a  church,  and  subscriptions  were 
begun.  A  list  printed  about  this  time,  of  persons  connected  with 
the  parish,  has  the  names  of  131  heads  of  families,  and  seventeen 
single  persons,  not  included  in  any  of  the  families.  In  selecting 
a  site  for  the  new  edifice,  attention  was  at  first  directed  to  the  lot 
on  Leavenworth  Street  owned  by  St.  John's  parish,  and  on 
July  17,  1880,  St.  John's  voted  to  sell  this  lot  to  Trinity  parish 
for  $7000.  But  after  considerable  discussion  the  lot  on  Prospect 
Street  on  which  the  church  stands,  was  chosen,  and  was  purchased 
in  December,  1881,  from  Charles  B.  Merriman  for  $16,000.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  by  Bishop  Williams,  May  21,  1883.*  The 
first  services  in  the  new  edifice  were  held  May  18,  1884. 


*  In  the  copper  box  placed  in  the  corner  stone  were  deposited  the  names  of  the  officers 
of  the  parish,  of  the  architect  and  contractors,  a  copy  of  the  contract,  a  Bible,  prayer 
book  and  hymnal,  diocesan  journal  for  1883,  a  catalogue  of  St.  Margaret's  School,  a 
church  almanac  for  1883,  a  full  set  of  coins  of  1883,  parish  reports  for  1883,  a  full  set  of 
the  previous  reports  as  given  in  the  parish  paper,  a  photograph  of  the  elevation  of  the 
building,  etc.  The  responses  were  sung  throughout  and  the  music  was  heartily  rendered 
by  the  large  choir  present,  accompanied  by  a  large  cabinet  organ. 

165 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

On  Easter  Sunday,  1886,  the  offertory  was  sufficient  to  cancel 
the  remaining  debt  (about  $4000),  and  the  church  was  conse- 
crated by  Bishop  Williams,  May  27. 

The  building  is  of  Plymouth  granite,  with  broken  surface,  the 
caps,  sills  and  belt  being  of  the  same  material,  with  cut  surface. 
The  outside  dimensions,  the  Sunday  School-room  being  included, 
are  about  135  feet  by  65;  in  1900  a  parish  house  was  added,  making 
the  whole  length  about  160  feet.  The  stone  spire  is  eighty-five 
feet  high,  and  the  sittings  number  about  530.  It  is  of  Gothic 
architecture;  the  architect  was  Henry  M.  Congdon.  The  cost  of 
the  church  and  lot  was  somewhat  over  $70,000,  of  which  Samuel 
W.  Hall's  gift,  with  the  accumulations,  paid  $22,500,  G.  W.  Burn- 
ham's  gift  $10,000,  and  the  parishioners  of  St.  John's  about 
$5000,  and  the  remainder  was  raised  by  subscriptions  in  the 
parish. 

Trinity  Church  is  a  memorial  of  Mrs.  Samuel  W.  Hall,  and 
this  fact  is  recorded  on  a  tablet  in  the  chancel: 

In  memoriam.  Mrs.  Nancy  Austin  Hall.  Born  April  13,  1815.  Died 
February  8,  1868.  To  perpetuate  her  memory  this  tablet  is  erected  by  the 
last  will  and  testament  of  her  husband,  Samuel  W.  Hall,  to  whose  generous 
bequest  this  church  owes  hi  large  part  its  erection  in  this  year  of  grace,  1883. 

Other  memorials  are: 

Brass  Tablet: 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

CHARLES  SCOTT, 

1817-1893. 

A  Benefactor  of  this  Parish. 
Remember  me,  O  My  God  for  good.— Nehemiah  XIII,  31. 

Brass  Tablet: 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

ARTHUR  CASTLE  NORTHROP, 

1848-1902. 

Some  time  Vestryman  of  this  Parish. 
Litany   Desk: 

To  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD  AND  IN  LOVING  MEMORY  OF 

GEORGE  NORTHROP  and  LOLA  CASTLE  bia  Wife. 
Each  aged  76. 

1818-1894. 

Members  of  the  Parish  since  its  organization. 

Make  them  to  be  numbered  with  thy 

Saints  in  Glory  everlasting. 

166 


TRINITY  PARISH. 

Organ  Console: 

IN  MKMORI AM 

EDITH  HALL  MICOU. 

Entered  into  Life  Eternal 

June  2,  1881. 

Choir  Stall: 

To   THE   GLORY   OF   GOD   AND   THE   GRATEFUL   MEMORY   OF 

MARY    A.    THOMPSON    COER. 

Born  March  16,  1825. 

Choir  StaU: 

To    THE   GLORY    OF    GOD    AND   THE   GRATEFUL   MEMORY    OF 

MARGARET  KIRK  CLARK. 
Died  June  5,  1895. 

Window: 
IN  MEMORIAM 

LUCY  SABRINA  SHEPARDSON. 
And  with  the  morn  those  angel  faces  smile 
Which  we  have  loved  long  since  and  lost  awhile. 

Window: 

IN   FRATERNAL  MEMORY   OF 

NATHAN  DIKEMAN. 
Born  December  9,  1828;  died  November  3,  1890. 


TO  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD  AND  IN  LOVING  MEMORY  OF 

EDWARD    DANIEL    STEELE. 
Born   November  20,   1838;  died  May  24,   1900. 

A  chancel  window  in  memory  of  Samuel  W.  Hall  was  con- 
tributed by  the  ladies  of  the  parish.  A  window  in  memory  of 
Dr.  Clark  was  contributed  by  the  Sunday  schools  of  St.  John's 
church.  A  window,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  J.  M.  L.  Scovill,  is  a  memorial 
of  her  children,  Thomas  C.  Morton,  who  died  February  13,  1876, 
aged  43,  J.  M.  L.  Scovill,  Jr.,  who  died  July  9,  1862,  aged  11 
years,  and  Sarah  A.  Whittlesey,  who  died  December  15,  1877, 
aged  twenty-five  years.  A  rose  window  commemorates  Almon 
Farrel.  A  part  of  Mr.  Burnham's  gift  of  $10,000  was  used  in 
purchasing  the  organ,  and  in  the  north  transept  is  placed  a 
memorial  tablet  with  the  following  inscription: 

In  memory  of  Maria  Louisa  Brownell,  wife  of  Gordon  W.  Burnham 
and  daughter  of  the  Right  Reverend  Thomas  C.  Brownell,  the  third  Bishop 
of  Connecticut.  Born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  June  5,  1824,  died  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  October  5,  1883. 

167 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

In  her  home,  loving  and  beloved;  to  those  without,  quiet  and  gracious; 
the  friend  of  the  sorrowful;  the  helper  of  the  needy;  a  steadfast  disciple 
of  the  Lord.  She  rests  from  her  labors,  and  her  works  do  follow  her. 

The  eagle  lectern,  the  gift  of  the  Rev.  F.  T.  Russell,  is  inscribed: 
"In  memoriam  Sigourney  Russell  obit  1880."  The  altar 
cross  was  given  by  Mrs.  A.  I.  Upson,  "In  memoriam  Ambrose 
Ives  Upson,  died  July  7,  1879."  The  baptismal  font,  "  In  loving 
memory  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Lyman  Clark,  D.D.,"  is  from  "the 
children  of  Trinity  Church."  The  altar  and  reredos  were  the 
gift  of  R.  E.  Hitchcock,  who  gave  also  a  chancel  window,  inscribed: 
"In  memoriam  Agnes  Dubois,  wife  of  Rufus  E.  Hitchcock,  born 
September  2,  A.  D.  1831.  Entered  into  rest  January  11,  1886." 
A  chancel  window,  the  gift  of  Mr.  Hitchcock's  daughter  and  her 
husband  (Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  C.  Northrop),  reads:  "In  memoriam 
Rufus  Edward  Hitchcock,  born  June  19,  1821.  At  rest  June  18, 
1888.  First  Senior  Warden  of  this  parish."  The  books,  altar 
cloths,  clock  and  chancel  furniture  are  also  gifts  from  various 
friends,  mostly  ladies  connected  with  the  parish. 

The  erection  of  such  a  church  was  a  great  undertaking  for  a 
new  society,  largely  made  up  of  young  men,  most  of  whom  were 
dependent  on  their  own  exertions  for  all  they  had,  and  it  was  not 
accomplished  without  much  effort  and  self-denial.  But  the  rapid 
growth  and  the  financial  success  of  the  parish  prove  that  the  free 
church  system  is  adapted  to  a  congregation  of  moderate  means 
in  a  growing  manufacturing  town.  The  current  expenses  were 
met  from  the  start,  although  the  parish  was  burdened  with  an 
annual  rental  of  $700  for  the  church  building  used  for  the  first 
seven  years.  The  congregation,  which  now  numbers  over  four 
hundred  families,  could  be  but  poorly  accommodated  in  the  110 
pews  of  the  church,  were  they  rented,  or  assigned  to  definite 
families. 

The  parish  record  for  the  twenty-eight  years  to  1905,  shows 
1295  persons  baptized,  833  confirmed,  622  marriages,  and  966 
burials.  The  Sunday  school  has  400  scholars,  and  the  number  of 
communicants  is  843. 

In  April,  1893,  the  parish  purchased  a  rectory  on  North  Willow 
Street,  which  stands  on  the  ground  spoken  of  in  the  account  of 

168 


TRINITY  PARISH. 

St.  John's  parish,  as  the  probable  birthplace  of  the  Rev.  James 
Scovil,  the  first  resident  rector  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  Water- 
bury.  August  25, 1900,  they  exchanged  this  for  the  building  next 
north  of  the  church. 

Societies  for  carrying  on  the  institutional  work  of  the  Parish 
are:  Altar  Guild,  Babies'  Branch  of  Junior  Auxiliary,  Junior 
Auxiliary,  Young  Women's  Guild,  Girls'  Calisthenic  Club,  Boys' 
Club,  Women's  Missionary  Society,  St.  Elizabeth  Guild,  Parish 
Sewing  School,  Elocution  Class,  Sight  Singing  Class. 

THE    REV.    R.    W.    MICOTJ. 

Richard  Wilde  Micou,  the  first  rector,  the  sixth  child  of  Wil- 
liam C.  and  Anna  D.  Micou,  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  June 
12,  1848.  The  family  is  of  Huguenot  extraction,  descended  from 
Paul  Micou,  a  lawyer  of  Nantes,  France,  who  settled  in  Virginia 
soon  after  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes. 

His  college  education  was  much  interrupted  by  the  disturbed 
state  of  the  South  during  the  Civil  War,  but  he  spent  three  years 
at  the  State  Universities  of  Georgia  and  Alabama,  and  afterwards 
studied  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  where,  in  1868, 
he  took  the  highest  honors  in  the  classics,  under  Professor  John 
Stuart  Blackie.  His  theological  training  was  carried  on  at  the 
University  of  Erlangen,  Bavaria.  He  was  ordained  to  the  diacon- 
ate  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  at  Sewanee,  Tenn.,  June 
12,  1870,  by  Bishop  Green  of  Alabama,  and  was  advanced  to  the 
priesthood  in  his  first  parish,  at  Franklin,  La.,  November  15,  1872, 
by  Bishop  Wilmer.  In  1874  he  took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  church 
at  Kittanning,  Penn.,  and  in  July,  1877,  accepted  a  call  to  the 
rectorship  of  Trinity  church  in  this  city,  and  took  charge  of  the 
parish  seven  weeks  after  its  organization. 

Mr.  Micou  served  from  1883  to  1891,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year,  as  a  member  of  the  City  board  of  education,  in  which  position 
he  pursued  a  course  calculated  to  win  the  gratitude  of  all  who 
desire  thoroughness  and  consistency  in  public  instruction.  He 
was  conspicuous  for  his  faithfulness  as  a  school  visitor  and  as  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  text-books  and  teachers  during  the 
entire  period. 

169 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

In  June,  1892,  Mr.  Micou  accepted  a  call  to  the  professorship 
of  systematic  theology  and  apologetics  in  the  Philadelphia  Divinity 
school.  The  Church  Standard  spoke  of  him  at  that  time  as  follows: 

"He  finds  himself  in  so  thoroughly  sympathetic  accord  with 
the  faculty,  and  is  so  fully  satisfied  of  the  large  usefulness  which 
lies  before  the  school,  that  he  has  resolved  to  cast  in  his  lot  with 
them.  Professor  Micou  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  although  he 
is  a  scholar  of  distinction  and  a  man  of  mature  thought,  still  re- 
tains all  of  the  vigor  of  youth,  and  will  enter  on  his  work  with 
great  enthusiasm. 

In  1898  he  accepted  the  chair  of  Systematic  Divinity  and 
apologetics  in  the  Episcopal  Seminary  at  Alexandria,  Va. 

In  May,  1872,  Mr.  Micou  married  Mary  Dunnica,  of  New  Or- 
leans. They  have  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

The  Rev.  Frederick  Dashiels  Buckley,  the  present  rector,  was 
born  at  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  in  1855.  He  received  his  early  education 
at  the  East  Greenwich  (R.  I.)  academy,  and  graduated  at  Trinity 
college  in  1884.  He  studied  theology  at  the  Berkeley  Divinity 
school,  and  was  ordained  deacon  June  1,  1887,  and  priest  March 
23,  1888. 

He  was  rector  of  Grace  Church,  Stafford  Springs,  from  1887 
to  1889,  and  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  from 
1889  to  1892.  He  officiated  for  the  first  time  as  rector  of  Trinity 
Church  on  October  1,  1892. 

On  June  16, 1887,  he  married  Nellie  A.  Partridge  of  Providence, 
R.  I.  They  have  two  children. 

A  Parish  house  was  built  in  1900  and  dedicated  by  the  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  May  24,  1902.  The  house  with  furnishings  cost 
about  fourteen  thousand  dollars,  and  the  value  of  the  entire 
property  to-day  is  about  $175,000,  free  of  all  indebtedness. 

New  memorial  windows  have  been  added  and  an  endowment 
begun. 

The  Parish  has  received  since  1900  a  bequest  of  $10,000  from 
Edward  F.  Lewis;  from  E.  C.  Lewis  $1000;  from  Ann  N.  Comber 
$250;  from  Lillian  Redfern  $150;  from  Mrs.  A.  C.  Northrop,  to 
establish  the  A.  C.  Northrop  fund  $1000;  from  Mrs.  Hannah 
Terrell  $1,000. 

170 


REV.  FREDERICK  D.  BUCKLEY. 


TRINITY  PARISH. 

The  Parish  continues  to  be  what  is  known  as  a  "  Free  Church, " 
supported  by  the  free-will  offerings  of  the  people,  and  ministers 
to  an  ever  increasing  number  of  people  as  the  city  grows  in  popu- 
lation. 

OFFICERS  OF  TRINITY  PARISH. 

WATERBURY,  CONN. 

REV.  FREDERICK  D.  BUCKLEY,  M.A.,          .         Rector. 
REV.  FREDERICK  E.  BUCK,  B.A.,       .         .         Asst.   Rector. 

Wardens. 
JOSHUA  K.  SMITH,  GEORGE  H.  BENHAM. 

Vestrymen. 

C.  J.  PIERPONT,  S.    J.    MARSH, 

F.  P.  WELTON,  R.  S.  WOTKYNS, 

H.  M.  STEELE,  C.   H.   SKILTON, 

C.  B.  CHURCHILL,  R.  S.  WALKER, 

C.  F.  DAVIS,  J.  L.  SWEIOER, 

C.  J.  HACKETT. 
ARTHUR  D.  NOBLE,  Clerk.  ROGER  S.  WOTKYNS,  Treasurer. 


171 


INDEX. 


The  names  in  the  lists  of  Church  officers,  of  taxes,  and  of  Dr.  Mansfield's 
baptisms  are  not  repeated  in  the  index. 

PAGE  PA.QB 


ERRORS  AND  OMISSIONS. 

Page  VII.     Fifth    line   in    second   paragraph:   "howeyer"    should   be 
"however." 

Page  54.     Fifth    line   from   bottom   of  page:  Abram  Ives — Died  July 
18,  1869  (not  1819),  aged  51  years. 

Page  58.  First  line  at  top  of  page:  Should  read  1901  instead  of  1891. 
Page  58.  Fifth  line  from  top  of  page:  Should  read  1889  instead  of  1899. 
Page  61.  Last  line  in  first  parargraph :  the  date  should  be  July  21 , 1906. 

Page  63.     The  death  of  Abram  Joseph  Warner  occurred  February  25, 
1907. 

Page  93.     Fourth    line   in   second   paragraph:    "Bryan"   should   read 
"  Bronson." 


Badger,  JJavid,      .     .     . 
Badger,  Rev.  Joseph, 

25- 

.      .       90 

—  iunry,  .  —  :    :    : 

Bentham,  Rev.  W.  C.,      .     . 

—.       76 
.     161 

Bailey,  Rev.  Melville  K.  . 

.     60,  104 

Berry,  Dr.,       

.     142 

Barber,  Rev.  Virgil  H.,   . 

30,  74,  97 

Bethany,     

.       22 

"       Mary  Austin, 

.      .       31 

Bible  and  Prayer  Book  (S.  P. 

G.)      50 

Samuel  Joseph,    . 

.      .       32 

"     new  received, 

.       98 

"       Rev.  Daniel,  .      . 

.      .       30 

"     old  given  away,       .      . 

.       98 

Baldwin,  Noah,      .      .      . 

.      .       25 

Biddle,  Rev.  Jacob  A.,     .      . 

.       61 

Dr.  Isaac,     .      . 

.      .       72 

Bingham,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  F., 

Rev.  Asahel,      . 

.      .      141 

57,  60,  82,  103, 

104,  108 

H.  E..     .      *      * 

.      .     152 

Blakeslee,  Rev.  Solomon,      . 

.21,90 

173 


INDBX. 


The  names  in  the  lists  of  Church  officers,  of  taxes,  and  of  Dr. 

Mansfield's 

baptisms  are  not  repeated  in  the  index. 

PAGE 

PAGE 

Abel,  Walter  T.,    .     .      . 

.     161 

Barlow,  Rev.  William, 

Aberdeen,  Scotland,    . 

.      .       22 

33,  66, 

68,  74,  99 

Acly,  Rev.  C.  G.,   .      .  59, 

65,  108,  160 

Barns,  Thomas, 

.     .       79 

Adams  Reuben 

79 

Barnes,  Rev.  Morton  A., 

61,   107 

Agricultural  Conditions,  . 

.     .       71 

Bartlett,  Joseph  E.,    .     . 

.     .       78 

Alcox,  Joseph, 

.      .     154 

"       H.  H.,     .      .      . 

.      .     148 

All  Saints,  Oakville,    .      . 

.      .     146 

Bates,  Rev.  John  M., 

.      .     142 

"       "     Wolcott,      .      . 

.      .     154 

Beach,  Asa,      .... 

.     .       76 

American  Pin  Co., 

.      .       69 

"      Asahel,       .      .      . 

.      .     144 

Amistad  Negroes,        .      . 

.     .       69 

"      (Rev.  John),    .     . 

.     .         2 

Andrews,  Rev.  Samuel,    . 

.      .     144 

Beard,  John,     .... 

.      .         5 

Andrew,  G.  W.,     .      .      . 

.      .     152 

Beardsley,  Dr.  E.  E., 

.     IX,  14 

Appleton,  Rev.  Samuel  G., 

.     59,  159 

Bass  viol  bought,  . 

.      .       30 

Arnold,  Jonathan,     .      . 

2,  139,  213 

Beardsley,  Levi,    . 

.     .     120 

Atwill,  Rev.  E.  R.,     .     . 

.      .     104 

Benedict,  Aaron,   . 

.      .       25 

Atwater,  Thomas, 

.     25,   93 

Beecher,  Daniel,    .      .     . 

150 

Atwood,  Wallace,  .      .      . 

.      .     148 

Beers,  Andrew, 

.      .     149 

Austin,  Rev.  Mr.,  . 

.      .     147 

Bell  in  Gunntown, 

150 

WilbertN.,     .      . 

.      .     143 

Bells,  chime  of,      ... 

.      50,  51 

"        Edmund, 

.      .       73 

Benson,  Bishop,     .      .      . 

.      .         4 

Bennett,  Rev.  Mr.,      .      . 

.     .     107 

Bacon,  Dr.  Leonard,  .      . 

.      .       74 

Benham,  Isaac, 

.      28,  76 

Bacon  E  E 

160 

"       George  H.,   .      . 

.      .     171 

Badger,  David,      .      .      . 

.      .       28 

"        Henry,    .      .     . 

.      .       76 

Badger,  Rev.  Joseph, 

.      .       90 

Bentham,  Rev.  W.  C.,      . 

.      .     161 

Bailey,  Rev.  Melville  K.  . 

.     60,  104 

Berry,  Dr.,        .... 

.      .     142 

Barber,  Rev.  Virgil  H.,   . 

30,  74,  97 

Bethany,     

.     .       22 

«       Mary  Austin,       . 

.      .       31 

Bible  and  Prayer  Book  (S. 

P.  G.)      50 

"       Samuel  Joseph,    . 

.      .       32 

"     new  received, 

.      .       98 

"       Rev.  Daniel,  . 

.      .       30 

"     old  given  away, 

.      .       98 

Baldwin,  Noah,      .      .      . 

.      .       25 

Biddle,  Rev.  Jacob  A.,     . 

.     .       61 

Dr.  Isaac,     .      . 

.      .       72 

Bingham,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  F., 

Rev.  Asahel,      . 

.      .     141 

57,  60,  82,  103,  104,  108 

H.  E.,     .      .      . 

.      .     152 

Blakeslee,  Rev.  Solomon, 

.      .21,90 

173 

HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


PAGE 

Blakeslee  Jacob,   15 
Jude,     24,93 
"         Rev.  Edward,        .      .     141 
Blake,  Seth,      144 
Booth,  Mrs.  Eunice  T.,     .      .   105,  106 
"      JohnC.,     .      .         104,169,58 
"      David,        .....     149 

Buckingham  Scovill  M., 
S.  McLean, 
Bucks  Hill,       .      .      .      .      1, 
Buckley,  Rev.  Frederick  D., 
Bulkeley,  Gov.  Morgan, 
Burgiss,  Rev.  N.  B.,   .      .      . 
Buel,  Mrs.  Cornelia,    .      .      . 
Burnham,  Gordon  W., 
•   "         Mrs.  Louisa  B., 
Burhans,  Rev.  Daniel, 
Burrall,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  M.,. 
Byington,  Daniel,        .      .      . 
Boy  Choir,  

Candee,  Joseph  B.,      .      .      . 
Carter,  Rev.  J.  F.,       .      .      . 

PAGE 

.       74 
.     148 
,    14,    72 
170,   171 
.       104 
.     142 
.     105 
102,  167 
49,  167 
.     142 
23,  155 
.      154 
.       78 

.     149 
.     106 

"      Samuel, 
Bolster,  Mrs.  Marcia,  .      . 
Bennett,  William  W., 
Bradley,  Abner,     .      .      . 
"       Aner 

.      .     164 
.      .       66 
.      .     164 
.      .       25 
164 

"       Abram 

93 

"       Hezekiah,     .     . 
Bristol, 

.      .     154 
2 

Brewster,  Elder,    60 
Bronson,  Capt.  Amos,       .      .      24,  29 
"       Azor,       76 
Judge  Bennett,  ...         9 
"       Herman,       ....       76 
Joseph,   86 
Seba,       ....       28,76 
Deacon  Stephen,     .      .       19 
"       Susannah,    .      .      .       25,  66 
Dr.  Tillotson,     2,  6,  13,  29, 
91,  94,  96,  97,  139,  149,  147, 
156,  158 
Brown,  Daniel,      .      .      .     VIII,   144 
*       Rev.  Edward  R.,       .      .     151 
Hezekiah,       ....       76 
"       James,       .      .      .     VIII,     73 
a      Joseph,      144 
"       Levi,    154 
"       Samuel  76,  144 
"       Mrs.  William,       ...       16 
Brownell,  Bishop,          .     45,  49    160, 
«          "     window,     ...       84 
"          "     monument,     .      .     104 
Buck  George  D  ,  .                            152 

"Mr.,      
Carver,  Rev.  Thomas  G., 
Camp,  Herbert  P.,      .      .      . 
Caskey,  Rev.  Taliaffero  D.,    . 
Castle,  Frank  E.,  .      .      .      . 
"      JohnS.,      .      .      .      . 
Choir  Boys,       

.       76 

108,  151 
.     164 
.     107 
164,  165 
164,  165 
78 

Centenary,  celebration,     .      . 
Chandler,  Rev.  C.  W.,      .      . 
Rev.  T.  B.,       .      . 

.     104 
.       59 
5 

Chatham,          
Christmas  Eve  Customs,  . 
Churchill,  C.  B.,     .      .      .      . 
Chime  of  bells  received,    . 
Cleveland,  Moses,  .... 
Claremont,  N.  H.,       ... 
Clowes,  George  H.,      .      .      . 
Church  of  1797,  voted,     .      . 
Church  Street,       .... 
Church,  second,  decorations, 
"        burned,     .      .       45, 
"       damaged  by  storm,  . 
"       vote  to  sell  old    .      . 
lot  of  First,    .      .      . 
"        Green,  Naugatuck,   . 
"       Company,      .      .      . 
Christ's,  Watertown, 

.       22 
.       65 
.     171 
.     108 
.       24 
30,31 
101,  120 
.       94 
26,    96 
.       26 
101,  108 
41 
.       95 
.     Ill 
.     150 
79,  123 
.     144 

"     Rev.  Frederick  E., 
Buckingham,  Mrs.  J.  A.,  . 
Mrs.  John  . 
"            Capt.  John, 

.     .     171 
.      .     145 
.      .       56 
VIII,     78 

174 


INDEX. 

PAGE 

I'A'.E 

Church  Home  and  Charity 

Cupola,                        , 

.     .      .       94 

"       Foundation,   .... 

80 

Cunningham,  Rev.  H.  N. 

,      .   146,148 

"        Hill,  Naugatuck,       .      . 

150 

Culver,  Thomas  M.,     . 

.      .      .       76 

Churchman's  Magazine,    .      .        6 

,  30 

Curtiss.  Franklin  L.,   . 

.      .   113,116 

Clark,  Rev.  Jacob,  L.,  D.D.,      16, 

33, 

Curtis,  Eli,        .      .      . 

<      .      93,  24 

36-44,  67,  100,  108,  102,  78, 

162 

"      Judge  Holbrook, 

.     .      .       72 

"     Mrs.  Mary  T.,   .      .      .      . 

41 

"      Rev.  W.  A.,     . 

.      .      .     150 

«     Mrs.  Mary  DeF.,    .      .      . 

41 

Cutler,  Dr.  Timothy,  . 

.     .     .     VII 

"      Mrs.  Anna.  G.,   .       .       .      41 

,    68 

"      Leman  W., 

.     .     .     147 

"     Edward  S.,        .... 

54 

Cranmer  Abp.,  Life  of, 

.     .     .       68 

"     Elias,      

73 

"     Rev.  Anson,      .... 

62 

Dallas,  John,    .      .      . 

.     .     .     187 

"     Cyrus,    

45 

Dartmouth  College,     . 

.      .      22,  29 

"     Rev.  Herman  Munson,     . 

62 

Daughters  of  the  King, 

.      .      .       68 

"     John,  Jr.,     

76 

Davis,  Rev.  T.  C.,  .      . 

.      .      .     150 

"     John,      

176 

"     C.  F.,     .      .     . 

.      .      .     171 

"     Margaret  Kirk,       .      .      . 

167 

Davies,  William,    .      . 

.     .      .     161 

"     Rev.  Peter  G.,        ... 

158 

Davenport,  Rev.  John  G 

.,      .      .     105 

"     Rev.  Orange,    .... 

36 

Dayton,  Wallace  E.,    . 

.      .      .     143 

"     Samantha,  

41 

A.  H.,       .      . 

.      .      .     152 

Cleveland,  Herbert  W.,     .      .      . 

143 

Dennis,  Phineas,    . 

.     .      .     154 

Cinquez,      

69 

Denison,  Rev.  S.  D., 

.  •  .      .     142 

Coer,  Rev.  Charles  C.,       ... 

63 

Dexter,  Prof.  F.  B.,     . 

.      .      .         6 

"     James  E.,      .      .      .      .      . 

164 

DeForest,  William  C., 

.      .      .     150 

"     Mary  A.  T.,  

167 

Derby,  

.      .      .         4 

Congregational  forms, 

64 

Dorman,  Rev.  L.  M., 

.      .      .     142 

Convention,  1788,         ...     61 

),  90 

Doolittle,  James,   .      . 

.      .      .     144 

Consecration,  Church  of  1797, 

27 

Thomas,      . 

.     .      .     144 

"  1848,   45, 

100 

Dowd.  John,     .      .      . 

.      .      .       76 

"                   "        "  1873,    . 

49 

Downes,  Lewis  T., 

.      .      .       77 

Consecration  of  Christ's  Church, 

145 

Driggs,  Theodore  I.,    . 

77,  55,  69,  102 

Comber,  Ann,         

170 

"       AsaJ.,       .      . 

.      .      .       69 

Cook,  Samuel,        ....     99 

,    76 

Duffield,  Rev.  S.  B.,    . 

.      .      .     142 

"      Miss  Susan,       .... 

68 

Dunbar,  Moses, 

.      .     .     141 

Cookson,  John  T.,       .... 

161 

Dunnica,  Mary  (Micou), 

.      .      .     170 

Cossett,  John,  ....       28,  73,  98 

Confirmation,  remarkable, 

23 

East  Plymouth,     .      . 

.      .      .     142 

Crockett,  Rev.  J.  A.,  .      .      .     . 

148 

Eastwood,  Rev.  B.,     . 

.      .      .     142 

Cotton,  Palmyra,         ...     79,  103 

Elton,  John  P.,      .      . 

.     .      54,  74 

Converse,  Rev.  R.  R.,       .  57,  103 

,104 

"       James  S.,    .      . 

.  55,106,109 

CoQffdon  Henry  M. 

166 

"       Mrs.  Betsey,     . 

,     .      .       56 

Covell,  Rev.  Mr.,   .  '    .      .      .      . 

158 

"    Olive  M., 

.     .     58,  104 

Corner  Stone,  Trinity,      .      .     . 

165 

Eggleston,  Rev.  A.  C., 

.     .     .     105 

175 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


PAGE 

PAGB 

Ellsworth,  Rev.  J.  W.,     .      . 

.      151 

Green,  Rev.  William,        .     2( 

5,  28,  95 

Elsdon,  Rev.  W.  P.,    .      .      . 

.        65 

Grigson,  William,  .... 

4 

Episcopal,         

.        30 

Griswold,  Rev.  A.  V.,       .     28,  94,  149 

Episcopal  pious,     .... 

.       20 

Grilley,  H.  M  

.     161 

Episcopal  Society,       .      .      . 

89 

Gunn,  Abel 

IX,  149 

Expenses  of  Parish,     . 

65 

"       Jobamah,    .... 

149,  150 

"       Nathaniel, 

.      IX 

Faber,  W.  A.,  

.      161 

Gunns  of  Gunntown,  .      .      . 

.       73 

Fabrique,  Charles,       .      .      . 

.       69 

Gunntown,       .      .      .     6,22, 

149,  150 

Falkner,  Rev.  Howard,    .      . 

.       23 

Fanningbury,  

.      154 

Haddam  

3 

Farrand  &  Votey        .      .      . 

.       78 

Hall,  Benjamin,     .... 

.       24 

Farrell,  Almon,      .... 

.     167 

"     Ruth, 

24 

"       Ruth  A.,   .... 

.       55 

"     Rev.  Mr.,      .... 

21 

Field,  Miss  Alice,  .... 

.       68 

"     Nancy  M.,     .... 

.       54 

Finch,  Asaph  

.     154 

"     Nancy  A.,     .... 

.     166 

"     Eleazar,      .... 

.     154 

"     Rev.  Charles  T.,       .      . 

.       61 

First,   Ecclesiastical  Society, 

3 

"     Levi,        

154,  157 

Frisbie,  Edward  L.,    .      . 

164,  165 

Orrin,       

.     157 

Fitch,  Rev.  W.  L  

.     151 

"     Samuel  W. 

Foot,  Rev.  Mr.  David,     .     21 

,  22,  91 

57,  73,  79,  81,  162, 

166,  167 

French,  Rev.  Mr.,      .      .      . 

.      158 

Hart,  Elizabeth,    .... 

.       24 

Frink,  Randall  C.,       ... 

.     161 

"      Rev.  Dr.  Samuel,    . 

.      142 

Fulford,  Jonathan, 

.     144 

"     Matthew,      .... 

.       24 

"     Rev.  Seth,  2,  23,  29,  92, 

120,  149 

"Gal'  'and  gallery,     .     .     . 

.       71 

Harrison,  Widow,        .      .      . 

.       86 

Gammack,  Rev.  Dr.  James,  . 

15,  142 

"        Benjamin,   .      .      . 

.     104 

Gardner,  Rev.  E.  C.,  .      .      . 

.     151 

Heminway,  B.  H.,       .      .      . 

.     148 

Garnsey,  Jonathan, 

.      144 

H.  H  

.     148 

Garth,  Rev.  Wm.  H.,       .      . 

.      151 

Merit,       .      .      . 

.     148 

Gas  first  used,  

.       65 

Hendee,  Charles  H.,    .      .      . 

.       69 

Gates,  Edward  H.,      .      .      . 

143 

Hickox,  Abram,     .... 

.       76 

"     Louis,    

.     160 

John,  

.     144 

General  Assembly, 

11 

"       Joseph,     .... 

.     144 

Geer,  Rev.  Alpheus,    .      .     33 

,  98,  99 

"        Preserved,      .      .      . 

.       76 

"   Sarah  Marshall,       .      . 

.       33 

Hill,  Robert  W.,    .... 

.       55 

"  George  J.,     . 

62,    33 

Hillard,  Rev.  E.  B.,    .      .      . 

.     139 

"   William  Montague, 

.       33 

Hitchcock,  Rufus  E.,        .      . 

58,  164 

Gilliland,  Rev.  John  D.,  .      . 

.     142 

"           Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  A., 

63,79 

Glebe  Swamp 

94 

William  R.,    .      . 

66 

"      House, 

25 

Hebron,     ...        ... 

22 

Goodrich,  Rev.  A.  B.,       .      . 

142 

Home,  Rev.  Geo.   W.  ,     .      . 

59,  108 

Grand  St.  Cemetery,  .      .      . 

.       36 

Hook  &  Hastings,       .     .      . 

.       49 

176 

INDEX. 


Hooker,  Rev.  W.  E.,        .     . 
Horsesheds,      

PAGE 
.     142 
.     100 

Kellogg,  Hon.  S.  W.,  .     . 

PAGE 

.     .     105 
154 

Hoadley,  Almira,  .... 

.       77 

JohnJ.,  .     . 

157 

"        David,    .... 

26 

Keeling  Jacob 

152 

Holcomb,  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick, 
72, 
Holden,  Rev.  S.  R.,    .     .     . 

145,  146 
60 

Kewley,  Rev.  Dr.,       .     . 
King,  Daughters  of,    . 
Kingston,  N.  B.,    .     .     . 

.     .     147 
.     .       68 
.       17,50 

Holmes.  Israel,      .... 
Hopkins,  Judge  Joseph,  .     . 

25 
1,  3,  10 

Kingsbury,  Frederick  J.,  . 
Mrs.  F.  J.,      . 

6,  9,  55,  105 
.     .      50 

"        Grammar  School,   . 
Hopson,  Rev.  Oliver, 
Hotchkiss  Bildad, 

8 
150,  153 
154,  155 

Miss  Alice,     . 
John,  . 
Klimpke,  Paul 

.     .       68 
.     .       25 

148 

Edward  E.,     .      . 
Timothy,  .      .      . 

"          Titus 

.     152 
.     154 
154  155 

LaForge,  Frederick  H.,    . 
Land  sold 

.     .     164 

107 

William,    .      .      . 
Hubbard,  Rev.  Bela,  .      .      . 
Hull,  Capt.  Joseph      .      .      . 
"     Rev.  Ambrose,  .      .      . 
Humiston,  Bennett,    . 

.     154 
.       29 
8 
.       90 
.       76 

Langdon,  Daniel, 
Laity,  The,       .     .     .     . 
Lamb,  Mrs.  William,  .     . 
Lampson,  William  K.,      . 
LaRue,  E  V.,  .     .     .     . 

.   154,155 
.     .       71 
.     .       68 
.     .       98 
.     .     143 

Hurlburt  Emma 

77 

Leasing  land,    . 

.      .     196 

Inscription  on  Church, 

.       56 

85 

Leavenworth,  Rev.  Mark, 
Hall,     .      . 
"           William,     . 
Lee  Rev  J  W 

.     .9,72 
.     .       68 
.     .       25 
104 

49,  101 

Lewis,  Rev.  John  N.  Jr., 

"    Ambrose,      .... 

.     154 

58, 

61,  107,  146 

"     MaryB.,       .     .     .      . 

.       28 
28 

"     Edward  C.,      .     . 
"     Edward  F.,      .     . 

.  164,165 
.     .     170 

"     Rev.  Mr.,      .... 
Jarvis,  Bishop,       .     26,  97, 

21 

142,  147 
29 

"     Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  H., 
Library,  established    .      . 
Lightning  strikes  Church, 

.     .     146 
.     .       34 
.     .       34 
.     .       17 

Jessup,  Rev.  Edward,       .      . 
"       Rev.  Emerson,     .      . 

.     108 
.     142 
32 

Lottery  for  All  Saints,      . 
Lumsden,  Rev.  Mr.,    .     . 
Lumpkin,  William  L., 

.     .     156 
.     .     142 
.      .     143 

Johnson,  Rev.  Samuel, 
VIII,  IX,  2, 
"       Rev.  E.  E.,  .      .      . 
Judd,  Asa,        
"      Frank,  H.,  .     .     .     . 
"      John,      .     .     .   10,79 

148,  151 
.     151 
.     144 
.     152 
,111,119 

Lyon,  Rev.  James,      .      . 

Mackay,  Rev.  James, 
McConnell,  Rev.  S.  D.,     . 
Mansfield,  Rev.  Richard, 
2,  8,  13,  29,  106, 

.      2,  139 

.     .     151 
.     .     146 

L41,  139,  147 

25 

McCrackan,  Rev.  John  H. 

,    .     61,  160 

177 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


PAGE 

Marsh,  S.  J., 171 

"      Rev.  Mr.,   .     .     .     .     .     191 
Mayo,  Rev.  March  C.,      ...     106 
McNulty,  Rev.  R.  R.,       .     57, 60, 103 
Memorials  in  Christ  Church,  Water- 
town,  146 

Memorial  to  Dr.  Clark,     ...     104 
Meneely&Co.,      .....       52 

Merriam  family, 77 

Merriman,  Charles  B.,      .     .     55, 165 
Charlotte  B.,  .      56,  68 

Sarah 79 

Helen,  ....       68 

Joseph?.,       .     .     164 

Nancy,       ...     147 

Micou,  Rev.  R.  W.,     .     .     9, 105, 165 

Edith  Hall,      ....     167 

Middlebury,     .     .     .     .     3,  98,  153 

Miller,  Rev.  Royal  R.,      .     .      .       61 

"     Rev.  M., 107 

"     Rev.  S.  K 142 

"     Harry  O.,   ....   160,161 

Minor,  Archibald, 156 

"     William  H.,      ....       78 

"     Joseph, 154 

Mitchell,  Mrs.  C.  M. Ill 

"       Charles  F.,   ....     105 

Monson,  Ellen, 77 

Morgan,  Rev.  Allen  C.,  35,  36,  97,  100 
Morris,  Rev.  Theophilus,       .      2,  139 

Morse,  Burdette, 143 

Morton,  Rev.  James,  ....     159 

"       Thomas,  C.,  .     .      .      .     167 

Munson,  Herman,       ....       28 

W.  J., 148 

Music, 76 

Naugatuck, 3 

New  Cambridge, 2, 89 

Nichols,  Capt.  George,      .     17,  73, 144 

"        Humphrey 73 

Rev.  James,  .     .     2,  62,  141 
Rev.  John  F.,     .     .      .     146 


PAG» 
Noble,  Arthur  P.,        ....     171 

*     Frank  B., 148 

Norton,  John, 154 

Northrop,  Arthur  C.,  .     .     .       16, 68 

"         George  andJLola,  .     .     161 

Northbury,       ....     2,139,140 

North  Haven, 1 

Norton,  Rev.  John,  D.D.,      .      .      .68 
Nova  Scotia, 2 


Oakville,  .... 
Officers  of  the  Church, 
Old  Bible,  .  .  .  . 
Organ  purchased,  . 

"     presented,   . 

*  installed,  .  . 
Osborn,  Thomas,  .  . 
Oxford,  .... 


.  VIII 
.  14 
.  14 

77 

49, 101 
.  36 
86,149 

22 


Rafter,  Rev.  W.  A 161 

Real  Estate, Ill 

Records, 86 

Rectory  lot  and  deed,       .      .   104, 126 

Redfern,  Lilian, 170 

Reid,  Rev.  Horace  Hall,  ...     146 

Revolution,  meetings  during,      .       89 

Rice,  Frederick  B.,      .      .      .      .     120 

«     LeverettE.,       ....       77 

Richards,  John, 14 

Richardson,  John,  .  .  .  .  Ill 
Rev.  Nathaniel,  D.D.,  145 
Riverside  Cemetery,  ....  36 
Rochester,  Bishop  of,  ...  14 
Rogers,  Rev.  Ammi,  ....  92 

"       J.  W., 152 

Root,  Edward  T.,        ....     165 

Rosati,  Bishop, 32 

Rossiter,  Rev.  Rodney,    .      .      .     142 
Rowley,  John,        .      .      .      .     77, 100 
St.  John,       ....       36 
Rowland,  Rev.  Edmund,  D.D., 

57,  104,  105,  106,  107 
Rural  habits  of  Clergy,     ...       35 


178 


INDEX. 


PAGE 
Russell,  Rev.  Francis  T.,  D.D., 

60,  102,  105,  159,  160,  165 

"       Huntley, 60 

"       Sigourney,     ....     168 


"Sabbady"  house, 
Sanford,  Rev.  David, 


11 
158 


Rev.  Frederick  R.,  .     63, 102 

Salem,         91 

"     Bridge, 3 

"      Society,      .      .      .      .      22,  23 
Sandland,   John   H,   Jr., 

69,  77,  100,  102 

Schoolhouse, 90 

Schofield,  H.  H., 152 

Scott,  Ashley,        98 

"    Charles,        .      .      .   117,79,166 

*    Daniel,         54 

"    David, 144 

"    Edmund, 9 

"    Gershom, 144 

"    Rev.  James  S.,       ...     151 
"    Rev.  Joseph,     ....     151 

"    Minnie  A., 54 

"    Jonathan, 117 

"    Roxy, 54 

Scovill,  Alfred  H.,       ....     148 

"       John, 13 

"       James,  2,  9,  16,  17,  18,  19,  50, 

87,  89,  104 

"       Elias,   ....     17,  18,  62 

"       Edward, 144 

"       Miss  Etta,       ....       68 

"       Rev.  Mr., 149 

"       Misses  Caroline  and  Mary,    66 

"       Samuel, 144 

"       James  M.  L.,  .      .      .      74,  79 

"       Mrs.  James  M.  L.,     .      .     167 

"       James  M.  L.,  Jr.,  .      .          167 

James  M.  L.  and  W.  H.     126 

"       William, 144 

"       William  H.,     56,  54,  74,  76, 66 
Scranton,  Rev.  Mr.,    ....     157 


PAGE 

Scudder,  Rev.  Henry  T.,       .     .     142 
Seabury,  Bishop,   ....     28, 145 

Seating  Church, 95 

Selkrigg,  William,       ....       10 
Senior,  Homer  C.,       ....     161 

Sewing  School, 68 

Searle,  Rev.  Roger,     ....     142 

Seymour, 22 

Sharp,  Sally  A., 103 

Shelton,  Rev.  Philo,    ....      141 
Shepardson,  Lucy  Saloma,     .     .      167 

Sigourney,  Mary, 56 

Singing  Schools,  early,      ...       78 

Smith,  Charles  H.,      ...     69, 148 

"     HobartC.,       ....     143 

"      Henry  A., 143 

"  Rev.  Henry  G.,  .  .  .  142 
"  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  ...  68 
"  Rev.  John  Eaton,  .  59, 101 
"  John  W.,  .  70,  102, 158, 164 
*  Joshua  R.,  ...  164,  171 

"Mr 6 

"     Rev.  Victor  C.,      .      .     60, 102 

Societies,  Committee,       ...       87 

Society  for  Prop.  Gospel,     IX,    18,  68 

Southmayd,  Daniel,    ....       72 

*          Rev.   John,     6,    13,    72, 

118,    139 

Stamp  Act, 15 

Staten  Island, 3 

Stansfield,  Rev.  J.  Atwood,  .  146,  161 

Starr,  Orrin, 147 

"    F.  E., 161 

St.  Andrew's  Brotherhood,    .      .       68 

N.  B.,    .     .      .      .         3 

"  George's,  Hempstead,       .      .       23 

"  James,         1,  10 

«  John's, 26,  44,  49 

«  Michael's,  Naugatuck,  22,  149, 156 
«  Margaret's  School,  .  .  69,  108 
"  Mark's,  Harwinton,  .  .  .  147 
"  Paul's,  WaterviUe,  65, 106,  107, 160 
"  Peter's,  Baltimore,  ...  23 


179 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 


PAGE 

PA.OI 

St.  Peter's,  Plymouth,     .      . 

.     139 

Yen.  S.  P.  G.,         .        IX,  3,  19,  20,  18 

Stake  set  for  Church,        .      . 

.  26,93 

Vestry,  Rules  for  Election,    .      .       64 

State  Street  lot,     .... 

.      104 

Quorum  of,     ...  100,  107 

Skilton,  C.  H.,       .... 

.      171 

Steele,  Rev.  Ashbel,    .      .      . 

.       60 

"     Rev.  A.  Floridus,     59, 

101,  108 

Wakelee,  David,    154 

"     Austin,         .      .      .      . 

.      75 

Irad,       155 

"     Edward  Daniel,      164, 

165,  169 

Waldo,  Rev.  David,    ....     147 
Warner,  family,     73 

"     H.  M.,  
Stevens,  George  H.,    .      .      . 
Stove,  in  Wolcott  Church,     . 
Stocking,  Rev.  Servilius, 

.     171 
.     161 
.     158 
.     158 

"      Dr.  Benjamin,    .      .      .  9,  10 
"      Ephraim,       ...      76,  28 
"      Rev.  Joseph  A.,       .     .       63 
"      Justus,    30,  31,  97,  117,  120 

Stone,  Dr.  Benj.  W.,         .     . 

146 

«         Ohft/liali                                                  7fi 

Stratford                            .     . 

IX,  4 

*  H>;i<  lUUl,            ....            lO 

ix&nsom,        .      .      .       62,  73 

Sunday  School,      .      .      .      . 

66,  67 

Washington,  George,  ....     105 

Sweiger,  J.  L.,        .... 

.     171 

Waterbury  from  Fannington,     .     VII 

"         Ohio,  50 

Talbot,  Rev.  Charles  R., 

.     151 

Watertown,      ....  2,  145,  VIII 

Talmadge,  Edwin  M.,       .      . 

.     143 

Waterville  Chapel,       .      .      .  100,  101 

Tftvlrvr    T^ainrl 

1QO 

Wallingford,     2,  23 

"      Thomas  R.,     .      .      . 

.     164 

Walker,  R.  S.,        171 

Terrill,  Hannah, 

170 

Watson,  Rev.  Wm.,    ....       42 

Welton,  Abi,               .                        IX 

Temporary  Chapel, 
Tithingmen,      

.     101 
.       66 

Rev.  Alanson  W.,     .     IX,  62 

Todd,  Rev.  Samuel,    .     .     . 

.     139 

"        Ard,    25,  143 

"      Street,    

.     154 

"        Arad,        143 

Townsend,  Larmon,    .      .      . 

.     153 

Rev.  Davis  J.,     .     .     .     142 

Toucey,  Mrs.  John  M.,     .     . 
Town  meeting,       .... 
"      and  Church  government 

.     142 
.       25 
,  .     VII 

Edwin  D.,     .     .     .     56,105 
"        Eliakim,  154 
Erastus,   ....   154,157 

"          V    P                                                171 

Tower  blown  down,     .      .      . 
Traggitt,  Rev.  H.  N.,      .      . 
Trinity  Church,      .      .      .      . 

.     101 
160,  161 
.     162 

l  .  i  .  ,          .       .       .       .       .       \  t  \ 

"       George  L.,     .     .     .     55,  106 
HobartV  56 
John,  .      .     1,  3,  73,  86,  154 

Treasurer  to  release,   .      .      . 
TrumbuU,  Dr.  Benj.,  .      .      . 
"         Rev.  John,      .     . 
Tuttle,  A  C  , 

.     103 
.    1,  3 
14,   29 
152 

Joseph  D.,      .      .      .62,  154 
"        Frances  R.  P.,     ...       55 
Moses,      ....   154,155 

Trust  funds, 

79 

*        Nelson  J.,  55,  67,  82,  105,  129 

*        Oliver,      .      .      .     13,79,114 

Richard,         .      .   IX,  25,  73 

Upson,  Ambrose  Ivea,      .     . 

.     160 

Samuel  76 

Utter,  Abram,       .     .     .     . 

.       13 

*       Stephen,        .     .       VIII,  76 

180 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Welton,  Thomas,.       .      .        154,155 
"        Rev.  Ximenes  Alanson, 

VIII,  158 


William  S.  H., 
West  Haven, 
Westminster  Abbey,   . 
Westbury, 

Wheaton,  Rev.  Dr.,  . 
Wheeler,  Rev.  Russell, 
White,  J.  C 

"     Rev.  J.  H.,      . 

"      Wm.  H., 
Widow  Harrison, 
Will  of  S.  W.  Hall,      . 


.      IX 

VIII,  4 

.       14 

2 

.       36 

.     145 

165 

.      60 

56 

86 

.       80 


Willey.  Rev.  J.  M.,  59,  101,  108,  159 
Wilcox,  John  Henry,  ....       77 


PAGE 
Williams,  Bishop, 

49,  53,  56,  101,  105,  163 

Williams  College, 147 

Wilson,  Seymour, 76 

Wolcott, 3,  158 

Williams,  Samuel  P.,  .     .      .      .     164 

Wood,  John  W., 152 

Woodcock,  Bishop,  ....  73 
Woodruff,  Rev.  C.  T.,  ...  151 
Woodbury,  .  .  22,  23,  149,  91 
Woodford,  Lionell,  ....  152 

Woodbridge 22 

Wooster,  John,  ....  25, 93 
Wotkyns,  Roger  S.,  .  .  .  .  171 

Yale  College, VIII,  1 


181 


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